YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER is a survival thriller about a serial killer played by J.K. Simmons. I love him as the story's villain. Especially because he portrays the perpetrator as someone who does not require a reason to kill.

He can kill, and he wants to kill, so he does. It's as simple and frightening as that. I highly recommend watching this film if you enjoy a more realistic approach to a survival narrative. There's also a serial killer. When someone becomes unhinged, there is no need for a lengthy biography.

When You Can't Run Forever opens, it shows a joyful family expecting a new boy. Husband and wife each have a daughter from their previous marriage, and Miranda is struggling. She is suffering from intense anxiety as a direct result of a past tragedy, which you will discover later.

However, things are about to get much worse for Miranda as a new monster enters her life.

It comes in the shape of a serial killer who has chosen Miranda as his next target. However, he will cheerfully kill everyone who gets in his way. Actually, he appears to murder anyone who interacts with him in any way other than in a friendly and light manner before moving on.

This serial killer seems absolutely unstoppable because he has nothing in his life except for killing people. Again, we do see what happened in his life to bring him to this point. Obviously, it doesn’t excuse his actions, but it is an explanation as to why now.

In any case, the killer going after Miranda leads to a brutal hunt through the woods. Miranda now needs to find a way to get away from this man chasing her, while still battling her own inner demons and intense anxiety attacks.

Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons is brilliant as the murderous tracker who becomes a bonafide serial killer within the first half of the movie. And shows no signs of stopping. J.K. Simmons has that charming grin and smug look that he can turn into a death stare in a split second.

As awful as this sounds, it’s perfect for this role just like J.K. Simmons is perfect as this character.

Miranda is portrayed by Isabelle Anaya, who comes across as both vulnerable and very powerful. Her stepfather is portrayed by Allen Leech who recently did a great job at portraying a psychotic serial killer himself in Cold Meat (2023).

Watch You Can’t Run Forever in theaters or on digital
Michelle Schumacher is the director and also co-wrote the screenplay with Carolyn Carpenter. Previously Michelle Schumacher has done two short films and two feature films. Prior to You Can’t Run Forever, she directed I’m Not Here (2017).

She’s also an accomplished actor and worked in both movies and on TV series. Including the brilliant long-running series Oz which was where J.K. Simmons had his career breakthrough. The two have been married since 1996, which explains why they work together so often.

Overall, everyone in this cast delivers solid performances that make for a believable story. Fernanda Urrejola (The Black Demon), Graham Patrick Martin, Andres Velez, Kevin Quinn, and Olivia Simmons are also in the core cast. Again, if you enjoy a good survival movie (and who doesn’t?), check it out!

You Can’t Run Forever is out In Theaters, On Digital & Demand from May 17, 2024.