![]() Jason Krawczyk's He Never Died is a strange yet confident piece of genre filmmaking which tells the story of Jack, a human-flesh eating vampire of sorts, who keeps himself under lock-and-key, showing little interest in sharing any type of bond or relationship with anyone. Attempting to "stay sober" from his urge to consume human flesh, Jack finds his stagnant, hermit-like lifestyle shattered when his estranged daughter is kidnapped by a criminal element, forcing Jack into action as he attempts to get her back by means of eating as few people as possible. Jason Krawczyk's He Never Died is a effective genre masher that blends violent antics that see Henry Rollins wrecking people's day with a assured sense of dry humor which makes He Never Died feel just as much, if not more, a comedy than a horror film. While Henry Rollins is typically known for his bombastic type of performances, He Never Died shows him in a much more subdued light, a borderline manic-depressant character who shows little interest in the lives of everyone around him, even those who are essentially trying to stab, shoot, or otherwise harm him. Even though the film is told almost exclusively through the point-of-view of this strange and oddly compelling main protagonist, He Never Died provides very little insight into the mystery of this character for much of its running time. This approach is sure to turn off some viewers who simply want answers, but for those willing to go along for the ride, He Never Died is a unique spin on vampire mysticism that uses Jack' depression due to his seemingly invincibility and thirst for flesh to evoke a thematic statement about personal responsibility. While Jack has little interest in being a father or a friend to anyone, his daughter's kidnapping forces him to take responsibility for something he has created, and as the narrative unfolds the viewer slowly comes to understand the weight which this character has experienced, being a man who seems destined to walk the earth forever. While I'd argue that the overall storyline involving Jack's daughter being kidnapped is just serviceable, He Never Died is a film that is hard not to enjoy regardless, due primarily to its dry humor and fun, stoic performance by Henry Rollins. A film that does a fantastic job of managing its comedy and extreme violence, He Never Died is a unique and enjoyable genre bender that is hard not to at least appreciate due to seeing Henry Rollins step out of his typical comfort zone.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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