Never Have I Ever (2024) Review

The first feature of frequent Frightfester Damon Rickard (try saying that five times fast) had its premiere at this years festival in the heart of London. For regular attendees of the fest, Damon’s name may be familiar as he has directed (and starred in!) some of the opening ident segments for Frightfest in recent years. This year, Damon was in attendance with a film of his very own entitled Never Have I Ever.

Never Have I Ever intertwines elements of a psychological thriller with a dark undertone of horror to create a nuanced sense of creeping dread that crescendos in an unexpected yet satisfying finale.

The audience is introduced to Sam (Andrew Lee Potts), a down on his luck alcoholic whose day seems to be going from bad to worse. We are teased with pebbles of information that allude to the cause of his downward spiral, but despite his flaws Sam is portrayed as a relatable, sympathetic character that the audience quickly feels kinship with. When we are introduced to the elusive Mara (Beatrice Fletcher), her charisma and likeability makes it easy to forget the niggling suspicious that something a bit odd is going on.

The film was funded with support from a Kickstarter campaign, so limited budget presumably is a contributing factor in the small cast and filming locations, yet this feels like a deliberate stylistic choice as opposed to a limitation. Rickard does well with what he has, focusing on the details to flesh out a small world in the confines of just a few locations and characters.

It’s the little details that bring the film to life, such as the colourful pink and blue lighting that compliments the seductive synth score from Mitch Bain. Similarly, the peppering of metal music helps build the atmosphere and makes the overall product feel much larger than it is.

With a relatively simple script, Never Have I Ever builds depth through compelling dialogue that is somewhat ‘Mike Flanagan-esque’. A lot of focus is placed on deep conversation and the tight framing enhances a sense of apprehension. It’s not until the credits roll that the viewer realises they have become increasingly tense as the film progresses.

Just when you think you know what’s going on, expectations are cleverly subverted in surprising ways.
Overall, Never Have I Ever is a well rounded and intriguing first foray into feature film for director Damon Rickard. His passion for genre film is clear to see throughout, and I’m excited to see what he does next.

Movie Rating:

Never Have I Ever trailer