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)^[1] is a 2024 American thriller film written by Carolyn Carpenter and Michelle Schumacher, directed by Schumacher and starring J. K. Simmons.^[2]

The film was released in the United States on May 17, 2024.^[3]

Miranda, 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 riding a motorcycle along a deserted highway. He stops at a gas station. There is a man with his barking dog and a couple sitting on deck chairs. The man with the motorcycle walks over to the man with the barking dog and shoots him in the head. The people sitting in deck chairs ask him “why are you doing this?” And he answers “Does it matter?” and shoots them dead.

He walks back to his motorcycle, smiles and rides off.

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

Ed and Jenny Cooper are expecting a baby. They live with Miranda, Jenny’s daughter, and Ed's daughter Emily from a previous relationship. Miranda suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and is on medication. Ed and Miranda leave to pick up a bassinet. On the way they stop at a gas station to use the toilet. Wade, the killer, enters the toilet and uses the urinal right next to Ed. Sensing something is not right, Ed leaves quickly.

Emily arrives at the house and is keeping Jenny company.

Ed and Miranda are talking about Jenny. Miranda starts crying, so Ed stops the car. Wade pulls up next to them and shows them his gun. They hurriedly drive off, chased by Wade who fires shots, hitting Ed who crashes the car. He tells Miranda to get out the car and run, which she does. The man on the motorcycle approaches the car and kills Ed. He then gets into the car, and finding Ed’s telephone, uses Ed's thumb to unlock it. At home Jenny and Emily are baking and Jenny drops a glass vase at the same moment that Ed dies, but blames it on a hormone imbalance. She gets a message from Ed and smiles, unaware that it is really from Ed’s murderer.

The police now turn up at the gas station where Wade killed 3 people. The woman he did not kill gives them a description of him.

The man on the motorcycle 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 mum’s 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 whom 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 midconversation, 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 mum’s 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 dad’s 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 flashlights looking for Miranda. They find her badge on the ground and discover the bodies of the Todd’s parents.

Back in time it shows the killer getting angry at work, coming home to discover his wife is cheating. He kills her and her lover 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 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 labor at the hospital and if she could make her way ASAP stopping by the house to grab the baby bag.

Emily and Miranda 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.

• 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

In September 2021, it was announced that Simmons, Leech, Urrejola, and Anaya had been cast in the film.^[4] It was also reported that same month that filming had occurred in Missoula, Montana.^[5]

In January 2023, filming wrapped.^[6]

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.^[7]

You Can't Run Forever was released in the United States on May 17, 2024.^[8]

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.^[9] Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com awarded the film one and a half stars.^[10] Will Sayre of MovieWeb rated the film a 3 out of 5.^[11]

• You Can't Run Forever at IMDb