He Never Died (2015)

Since the entirety of October is officially Halloween this year (shut up, you!), we at Psycho Drive-In have decided to attempt to fill the month with thirty-one recommendations for horror-related movies, comics, books, TV shows, toys, games, and everything in-between. It’s gonna be a grab-bag of goodies we feel you should be exposed to, whether you like it or not! But don’t expect your standard suggestions for Halloween fun, we’re digging into some stuff that we love in the hopes that you might make this October a little bit weirder than usual.

Weirder in a good way. Not like what’s going on outside in the hellscape of 2020.

Do you love Henry Rollins as much as I do? It… admittedly seems unlikely. But hey, if you do, you’re three things: in good company; an individual of exceptional taste; and extraordinarily well-lubricated to watch this movie.

He Never Died is the kind of movie I keep trying to convince everyone I meet to watch. Any time I’m at anyone’s house — fuck, any time I’m at my house — I try to convince the plebians I’m sitting with to watch it. Every time, they refuse. Every time, they’re fucking wrong.

This is not a horror movie. Wait, lemme back up. This isn’t just a horror movie. This is a character study, a slow burn, something that’s atmospheric in the way of a noir film. It’s stark, bleak, uncertain, following a single character — Jack, played magnificently by Henry Fucking Rollins — as he goes about a bleak and aimless life, searching for something that might make him whole. It’s made clear quite quickly that Jack has some shit going on, if not exactly what… but when he meets with a quirky teen girl, the spedometer on his plotline is increased by about… 120%. I never promised this movie was fast-paced.

Fast or not, though, He Never Died is gradual and fascinating, and the less that’s spoiled about its plot, the better. You stick with this film because it draws you in, against your will — if you’re weak for intrigue, and particularly for a strong, well-acted central character, this will keep you guessing scene by scene, wondering what comes next, what clue leads to the next big reveal. Or, maybe you’re clever, in which case each new twist will bring a rush of self-gratifying satisfaction.

He Never Died is not action-packed, but it does have action. It’s horrific, but not horrifying. It has emotion, but it isn’t emotional. It’s dark, but there’s a light at the end.

There are only three things that are absolute. One, it stars Henry Fucking Rollins (and no he isn’t just on the cover to trick you, he’s the main character). Two, it’s a fantastic film to watch within the icy claws of a wicked October night. Three — it’s on Netflix. #NotAnAd #CouldBeAnAd #NetflixHitMeUp