Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing Shudder Original, Australian, horror movie You’ll Never Find Me from March 2024. Let’s not beat around the bush here, Shudder Original horror movies are a mixed bag. They range from woefully poor to just about watchable with the occasional glimmer of hope thrown in, here or there, for good measure.

The most accurate thing that could be said about them, as a whole, is that they are generally flawed. Josiah Allen and Indianna Bell’s feature length directorial debut You’ll Never Find Me is no exception. It is a flawed movie with some issues that will surely impact certain viewer’s enjoyment. But it is also an enjoyable and thought provoking, slow horror, with a small cast and tense, intimate, setting.

Before we start, if you have already checked You’ll Never Find Me out and are looking for answers. You might find them in our You’ll Never Find Me Ending Explained article. Be forewarned though, it contains spoilers so if you haven’t watched it you should read the review first.

Slow Moving

Following the story of a lonely elderly man named Patrick (Brendan Rock) who spends most of his time sequestered in his trailer park home. You’ll Never Find Me sees Patrick’s isolation broken by the arrival of a young woman knocking on his door in the early hours. Drenched from the rain and unaware of where she is. The young woman, played by Jordan Cowan, spends the night with Patrick. A night that reveals that both of their lives are not quite what they seem.

A screenshot from Shudder original horror movie You'll Never Find Me (2024)

You’ll Never Find Me is an extremely slow moving horror, thriller, movie that places a huge emphasis on tension and mood setting. There are no jump scares here or obviously horrific goings on. This is a movie that makes its bread on pure atmosphere alone. The bulk of the film consists of two characters talking with occasional minor hints towards a hidden narrative waiting to unfold.

Each camera shot is deliberate and every sound you hear is considered and structured to drag you into the room. Pacing is glacial but it’s hard not to feel immersed in the sheer anxiety of the situation. The first half is legitimately captivating for anyone who has even the slightest interest in slow build horror. Bell and Allen squeeze every last drop of tension out of every wall and every surface in that trailer.

A Daring Approach

You’ll Never Find Me takes the daring approach of telling its story through the medium of only two characters existing in a singular setting. Bringing to mind the likes of The Lighthouse, Stalker, and other similarly claustrophobic, overly intimate, chamber pieces. Acting from the two leads is absolutely stellar. Brendan Rock flits effortlessly between sinister and piteous turning an otherwise bland character into someone who is both complex and deep. Jordan Cowan portrays her role in an equally capable manner hinting at a person who shares in Patrick’s complexities

Conversations between the pair, and the awkward tension created by the character’s unease, is all the story needs to push forward. It would be remiss of me to not point out, however, that people who dislike slow moving, character driven, horror need not apply. For those of us who relish these types of stories. It is fair to say that the first half of You’ll Never Find Me is one of the most intriguing I have seen in horror for quite some time. I was truly drawn in and thoroughly engaged.

A Disappointing Ending

Where the movie falls apart, however, is in its final 30 minutes. Unfortunately, my fiancée and I had realised within about 15 minutes of the movie starting what was going on. Meaning that the “big reveal” twist was really not a tremendously interesting one and really played out in, what can only be described as, a massively predictable manner.

The final 30 minutes are a chaotic and antsy switch from the slow, character based, drama of the first half into an almost overly urgent, generic thriller. The considered and careful camera shots are replaced with cliched tropes and overly vibrant colour palettes meant to discombobulate the viewer. Sound production is suddenly abrasive and the low budget nature of the film begins to show through.

It is fairly disappointing as the first half was just so engaging. It is not so much that the ending is bad so much as it is a realisation that the story was exactly what you thought it was from the very get go. No surprises and extremely formulaic. All capped off by one of those question mark final scenes that piss horror viewers off so much.

Should You Watch You’ll Never Find Me?

You’ll Never Find Me is absolutely worth the watch. It is, actually, one of Shudder’s better efforts in years. The movie has heaps of tension and the early parts of the film are incredibly atmospheric. The interactions between the fabulously acted characters drag you right in and you become eager to know what will happen next. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite stick the landing and the overly familiar, generic, ending may leave you wanting more. It is still another great example of brilliant Australian horror, though and very enjoyable.