DbcultAccessing Vault...
5.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. They Never Come Back remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a thing for black-and-white fight films from the thirties, you might get a kick out of They Never Come Back. It is not exactly Romance, but it has that earnest, pulpy energy that feels like a Tuesday afternoon at a local rep theater.
If you need high-budget polish or modern pacing, stay away. You will probably find the dialogue a bit stiff and the plot turns a bit too convenient for their own good.
Jimmy Nolan is the guy you want to root for, even when the movie makes it weirdly difficult. The injury scene? It happens so fast. One minute he is the king of the ring, the next his arm is toast and the movie is basically daring you to stay interested while he mopes around.
The whole bit with the nightclub entertainer feels like it was written on a napkin during lunch. I mean, the chemistry is… well, let's just say it is functional. It gets the job done, but don't expect sparks.
Once the frame-up happens, the movie shifts gears into a sort of low-rent noir. The prison segment is over in a blink, which I actually appreciated. Nobody wants to watch an hour of cell walls.
The comeback fight is obviously the highlight, even if the choreography looks more like a slap-fight than a heavyweight title bout. I spent most of the final reel looking at the background extras, who seemed way more interested in their shoes than the main event. 🥊
It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s certainly not The Ten Commandments in terms of scale or ambition. It’s just a scrappy little film that knows its place in the world.
It’s a strange little relic. You watch it for the grit, even if the grit is mostly just grainy film stock and bad luck. Don't overthink it, and you'll be fine. 🎞️