You’ll Never Find Me by Australians Indianna Bell (also screenplay) and Josiah Allen is an extremely effective chamber piece that practically pulses with tension and immediately grips the viewer.
Copyright Meteor Film
But first, the plot: On a stormy night, the visibly unsettled Patrick, a middle-aged man (played by Brendan Rock), cannot sleep. He lives in seclusion at the back of a trailer park, far from the usual beaten paths. Unexpectedly, a young woman (portrayed by a convincing Jordan Cowan) appears at his door, seeking shelter from the storm. She claims to have come from the beach (which is quite far away, and she’s barefoot to boot). Patrick, though initially dismissive, eventually grants her entry and suggests a warm shower while the storm continues to rage outside. But tension soon permeates the air between them. When the power finally goes out, each lightning flash and thunderclap amplifies the feeling that one of these two people (or perhaps both) is hiding something from the other…
When Two Strangers Meet…
You’ll Never Find Me particularly recalls two recent solid genre films: Stalker (2022) by Steve Johnson and Barbarian (2022) by Zach Cregger (at least the first half of the film). In these psychological chamber pieces as well, two strangers—a man and a woman—encounter each other. In the former, in an elevator of a seedy hotel that breaks down and gets stuck; in the latter, in a strange Airbnb rental that appears to have been double-booked for the same period. Bell and Allen’s film, however, is an even more effective variation; it’s less stiff than Stalker and far more consistent than Barbarian.
The dynamic that emerges from the seemingly innocuous encounter between the man and the young woman is truly unique: The viewer holds their breath, tries to speculate what might happen next, only to be led down another false trail. The two constantly accuse and suspect each other. It’s also this clash of genders (man – woman) and generations (old – young) that ultimately makes this film so irresistible and compelling. Stalker and Barbarian contented themselves “merely” with the gender aspect. In You’ll Never Find Me, the screen crackles with suspense every single second. How will this encounter possibly end?
Talent at Work
Bell proved her talent with the short film Call Connect (2019), which she wrote and also directed alongside Josiah Allen. In a single shot with a very slow zoom (!), it tells the story in under 15 minutes of a young emergency call operator taking her first call. In the process, she goes through what may be the most stressful situation of her entire life… Definitely worth watching and available for free on YouTube—an insider tip for curious readers among you!
In any case, Bell and Allen skillfully manage to maintain and continuously build the tension in You’ll Never Find Me until the film finally culminates in a surprisingly surreal psychological finale—where you get to (or must) peer deep into a sick soul. In the end, the motto also applies: You get what you deserve.
You’ll Never Find Me is thus an indie genre film not to be missed; a small cinematic thriller gem! And film fans of all stripes should definitely keep an eye on the careers of Indianna Bell (and Josiah Allen); one can look forward to more indie genre jewels from them.