HE NEVER DIED
US, 2015, 99 minutes, Colour.
Henry Rollins, Kate Greenhouse, Boo- Boo Stewart, Jordan Todosey, Don Francks.
Directed by Jason Krawczyk.
This is a supernatural film with a touch of horror and a number of twists.
It is a star vehicle for character actor, Henry Rollins. He plays Jack, the seeming down and out character, in bars, playing bingo with the church, dependent on associates, becoming entangled with a woman, Kara, in a situation where his daughter is abducted by thugs.
There are many mysteries about Jack, his character, his relationship with people, some relics of his past.
The revelation of who he was, an immortal character, punished, with the Mark of Cain, destined to live through the centuries, having to cope – but the issue of whether he was redeemable.
Offbeat, and a plot with provocative aspects.
1. The title? The immortal man?
2. The final revelation of who he was, in the Bible, Cain, murdering a ball? The Mark of Cain? Doomed to live forever? His explanation to Kara of all the occupations he had? An ordinary man? Extraordinary? Able to be wounded but never dying? The touch of the vampire? Eating his victims, drinking the blood? Survival?
3. New York City, apartments, the streets, the diner, the clubs, the world of criminals? The musical score?
4. Jack, as a character, morose, laconic, seemingly wanting to do good to people, his reliance on Jeremy, Jeremy and his debts, being attacked by the thugs, Jack’s interventions? The surprise that Jack had a daughter, separated from his wife, her phone call, his daughter wanting to meet him? At the diner, the conversation, her way of life, boyfriend, drugs? Going home with him? The possibility for bonding?
5. Jack, detached, not connecting with people? The irony is going to the bingo, the bingo caller? Taking his daughter? Her abduction?
6. Kara, at the diner, friendly, her story, ambitions, divorce, waitress? Bonding with Jack, the offer to go to the bingo? His standing her up? The other members at the diner, attitudes towards Jack? His visits, abstemious, drinking, his change of heart?
7. The abduction of his daughter, his quest, entanglements with the various thugs, harsh treatment of them, violence, deaths? The link with the club owner?
8. Jack tracking people down, the violent confrontations?
9. Kara, her being mystified, witnessing Jack being shot, not wanting to help, his being persuasive, her driving, going to his apartment, the relics from the past, his explanations, the money? The parked car, her participation in the rescue?
10. Jack, the final confrontation, Death, appearance, doom?
11. The final rescue, Jack and his continuing to live out his immortality?
