You Can't Run Forever

You Can't Run Forever
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michelle Schumacher
Written by	Carolyn Carpenter Michelle Schumacher
Produced by	Randle Schumacher
Starring	J. K. Simmons Allen Leech Fernanda Urrejola Isabelle Anaya Olivia Simmons Max Garfin Nathan Vincenti
Cinematography	Pietro Villani
Edited by	Evan Ahlgren
Music by	Joe Simmons
Production companies	Rubber Tree Productions Voltage Pictures
Distributed by	Lionsgate
Release date	May 17, 2024 (2024-05-17)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

You Can't Run Forever (formerly titled The Woods) is a 2024 American thriller film written by Carolyn Carpenter and Michelle Schumacher, directed by Schumacher and starring J. K. Simmons.

The film was released in the United States on May 17, 2024.

Plot Summary

A teenage girl suffering from anxiety due to a tragic event from her past finds herself hunted through the woods by a sociopath on a murderous rampage. The film starts with a man on a motor cycle riding through deserted highways when he stops at a gas station. There is a woman filling her car up, a parked car, a man with his dog and a couple of sitting on deck chairs. After filling up fuel the man with the motor cycle walks up to the man with the dog and shoots him in the head. He then shoots the people sitting in deck chairs “why are you doing this? “Does it matter?” He walks back to his motor cycle, sees a woman quivering by her car and a man comes out the gas station he smiles and rides off into the sun.

The film is constantly changing between 3 viewpoints: the man on the motor cycle killing people, the victims family at home and the police.

Ed and Jenny Cooper are expecting a baby. They live with Miranda, daughter from Jenny’s previous relationship and Ed also has Emily from a previous relationship. Miranda suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and is on medication which she carries in a fanny pack on her. Mum encourages Ed to take Miranda to pick up a bassinet he’s going to get, to get her out of the house. On the journey Miranda asks Ed to stop at a gas station so she can use the toilet. Ed decides to use it too and the man on the motorcycle enters the toilet and uses the urinal right next to Ed. Sensing something is off Ed gets out of there quickly.

Emily arrives at the house and is keeping Jenny company.

Back on their journey Ed and Miranda are having a heart to heart about Jenny. Miranda starts crying so Ed stops the car to comfort her. The man on the motor cycle pulls up next to them and shows them a gun. Ed drives off and they are being chased by him when he fires shots. Ed crashes the car as he’s been shot in the chest. He tells Miranda to get out the car and run, which she does. The man on the motor cycle approaches the car and kills Ed. He then gets into the car and eats the snacks and drinks while talking to a dead Ed. He finds Ed’s phone in the car and uses his thumb to unlock it. There he has access to Ed’s contacts, messages, photos and locations services.

Back at home Jenny senses when Ed dies and drops a glass vase. Blaming it on hormones her and Emily bake cakes and talk about sentimental stuff. She gets a message from Ed and is smiling away unaware that it is actually Ed’s murderer messaging her.

The police have now turned up at the first gas station where the man on the motor cycle killed 3 people. The woman who he let live gives a description of him to them.

The man on the motor cycle has now entered the woods to pursue Miranda. He creeps up behind her, she throws dust in his eyes and runs and so begins the chase.

She phones the police but after losing reception manages to leave a voicemail on her mums phone to tell her what has happened. She finds a stream and is cleaning her wounds when she hears a gunshot. She tries to move as quietly as she can but he hears her and starts chasing her. He bumps into 2 hunters who he shoots dead. Miranda is having a panic attack and takes her medication. She hears the man calling her name and hides behind a tree. She calls the police again and is able to tell them she’s in the woods and there is a killer after her.

The police find Ed in his car and pick up bullet shells from the ground. They know his phone is missing and his thumb has been cut off. They find Miranda’s lunchbox.

Back in the woods Miranda is running and bumps into a boy who is camping with his parents. She tells them she needs help and the dad calls the police. He is shot dead mid conversation, then the mum, then the boy. Miranda runs away. The killer then sits with the dead bodies while eating their food and going through their belongings.

Jenny finally hears the voicemail and alerts Emily and the authorities. Emily offers to go with police to help find Miranda. After a lot of crying she calls Ed’s number and the killer answers. He is talking to Jenny on speaker.

It is now dark in the woods and as Miranda is using her phone she realises someone is tracking her location. She turns her phone off and follows her mums voice. She can see the killer but he can’t see her. He is enraged when he finds out he can’t track her. Jenny makes a run for it after grabbing a rucksack. She calls her mum and they cry together.

As she is walking she bumps into the boy, Todd she met before. He survived the gunshot! He is injured and encourages her to keep moving.

Jenny finds videos of the killer online. He seems to be some sort of motivational speaker.

Miranda and Todd find a quiet hidden place to sit and make it through the night. They get to know each other and build a bond. She shares her medication with him and tells him she has loads as she hasn’t taken her medicine in weeks. She admits she found her real dads body after he committed suicide and that’s the reason for her mental illness. They fall asleep crying and holding each other.

The police and some volunteers are in the woods with the flash lights looking for Miranda. They find her badge on the floor and discover the bodies of the boys parents.

Back in time it shows the killer getting angry at work, coming home discovering his wife is cheating and kills them and then takes his motorcycle.

Back in the woods Miranda wakes up to find Todd is dead. After going through the rucksack she finds a pocket knife and some magic mushrooms. She climbs to the top of a tree and spots a house/building not too far away. She then spots the killer. The building ends up being where the police and volunteers have gathered and she makes a run towards a them and is saved.

Seeing this the killer changes tactics and instead makes his way to Ed and Jenny’s house. He has Jenny hostage and calls Emily telling her Jenny is in labour at the hospital and if she could make her way asap stopping by the house to grab the baby bag.

Emily and Jenny come home to find the killer and Jenny sitting at the table. After an exchange of words and a little fight Jenny grabs the gun and shoots the killer.

The movie ends with Jenny having the baby with the support of Miranda and Emily.

Cast

• J. K. Simmons as Wade
• Allen Leech as Eddie
• Fernanda Urrejola as Jenny
• Isabelle Anaya as Miranda
• Olivia Simmons as Emily
• Max Garfin as Ben
• Nathan Vincenti as Davis

Production

In September 2021, it was announced that Simmons, Leech, Urrejola, and Anaya had been cast in the film. It was also reported that same month that filming had occurred in Missoula, Montana.

In January 2023, filming wrapped.

Simmons confirmed in an interview with MovieWeb that the making of the film was a family collaboration since his wife co-wrote and directed the film, his brother-in-law produced it, his son composed the score of the film and his daughter makes an appearance in the film.

Release

You Can't Run Forever was released in the United States on May 17, 2024.

Reception

The film holds a 29% approval rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 critics' reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com awarded the film one and a half stars. Will Sayre of MovieWeb rated the film a 3 out of 5.

External links

• You Can't Run Forever at IMDb