You ever have one of those weeks where everything just goes to hell? I’m talking about the kind of week where you lose your rent money, get fired from a diner job, and end up dealing with a literal house full of people you can’t stand. That’s the messy, sun-drenched, and hilariously honest world of the Never Goin' Back movie. It’s a film that doesn't try to be "important" with a capital I, yet it captures a specific brand of teenage desperation better than almost anything else from the late 2010s.
Most people who stumble upon this movie on a streaming service expect a typical stoner flick. You know the drill. Two dudes sitting on a couch, some low-brow jokes, maybe a heist. But director Augustine Frizzell turned that trope on its head by centering two teenage girls—Angela and Jessie—who are just trying to get to Galveston for a birthday trip. It’s gross. It’s loud. It’s surprisingly tender.
What Actually Happens in Never Goin' Back?
Let's get into the weeds. The plot is basically a 48-hour nightmare disguised as a comedy. Maia Mitchell and Camila Morrone play Angela and Jessie, high school dropouts working a dead-end waitressing job. They’ve saved up just enough for a beach vacation. Then, the universe decides to punch them in the face. Repeatedly.
Their house gets robbed. They get arrested. They accidentally ingest way too many edibles before a shift at the diner. It’s a comedy of errors, but the stakes are actually quite high because they are broke. Like, "we might lose our house" broke. Frizzell, who wrote the script based on her own chaotic upbringing in Garland, Texas, doesn't shy away from the dirt. There’s a scene involving a "drug-induced" shift at work that is honestly one of the most stressful things I’ve ever watched, mostly because we've all had that feeling of being somewhere we shouldn't be, doing a job we hate, while the world spins out of control.
It’s real. It feels lived-in.
The Texas Setting is a Character
Forget the glossy Austin or the high-rise Houston you see in travel brochures. This is Garland. It’s suburban sprawl, cheap motels, and sun-bleached asphalt. The cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra makes the heat feel tactile. You can almost smell the grease from the diner and the stale air of their shared bedroom.
This isn't "poverty porn," though. The movie has a neon-soaked, dreamlike quality that mirrors the girls' optimism. They are convinced they’re going to make it to the beach. That delusion is their survival mechanism.
Why the Never Goin' Back Movie Sparked So Much Debate
Critics were actually pretty split on this one when it hit Sundance in 2018. Some loved the "girls being gross" energy, comparing it to a more grounded version of Spring Breakers or a female-led Superbad. Others found the constant stream of bodily fluid jokes and drug use a bit much.
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But here’s what those critics missed: the friendship.
Angela and Jessie aren't just "hanging out." They are family. In a world where their actual family members are either absent, incarcerated, or just plain toxic, they only have each other. The chemistry between Mitchell and Morrone is the only reason the movie works. If you didn't believe they loved each other, the movie would just be a series of unfortunate events. Instead, it’s a love letter to that one friend who will sit in a jail cell with you and still crack a joke about how bad the sandwiches are.
Breaking the "Coming of Age" Mold
Usually, these movies end with some big realization. The protagonist learns a lesson. They decide to go back to school or reconcile with a parent.
The Never Goin' Back movie refuses to do that.
It stays true to its title. These girls aren't looking for redemption; they’re looking for a break. They don't want to change who they are; they want to change where they are. There is something incredibly refreshing—and maybe a little bit nihilistic—about a movie that lets young women be reckless without punishing them with a "moral of the story" ending.
The Production Reality vs. The On-Screen Chaos
Making this movie was almost as chaotic as the plot itself. Augustine Frizzell has spoken openly about the semi-autobiographical nature of the script. She grew up in the environment she’s filming. She knew the rhythm of those conversations and the specific desperation of needing twenty bucks by 5 PM.
- The Budget: It was a low-budget indie, which forced the crew to get creative.
- The Casting: Morrone was mostly known as a model at the time, and this was her breakout "serious" (or seriously funny) role.
- The Tone: A24 picked it up, which tells you everything you need to know about its vibe. It fits perfectly into that late 2010s A24 aesthetic: gritty, colorful, and unapologetic.
Interestingly, the movie doesn't rely on a heavy soundtrack of hits. It uses sound design to emphasize the claustrophobia of their lives. The buzzing of a broken AC unit. The clatter of dishes. It builds tension until you, the viewer, are just as desperate for them to get to the ocean as they are.
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Comparing Never Goin' Back to Other Stoner Comedies
If you look at Pineapple Express or Booksmart, there’s a certain level of "safety" in the chaos. In Never Goin' Back, the safety net is gone. When they lose their money, it’s not just a plot point; it’s a catastrophe.
I think that's why it resonates with a younger audience. It captures the precarity of the modern gig economy and the housing crisis, even if it doesn't use those specific words. It’s a movie about the "working poor" that actually feels like it was written by someone who has been there.
The "Gross-Out" Factor
Look, I have to be honest. There is a lot of vomit. There’s a scene in a target that is... memorable. Some people find this off-putting. But in the context of the movie, it’s a great equalizer. These girls aren't "cool" in the traditional sense. They are messy. They make bad decisions. They have bad skin and greasy hair.
By allowing them to be "gross," the film strips away the male gaze that usually dominates movies about teenage girls. They aren't there to be looked at; they are there to survive.
Is It Still Relevant?
Absolutely. If anything, the Never Goin' Back movie feels more relevant now than it did in 2018. The gap between "having a vacation" and "being homeless" feels thinner for a lot of people these days. Seeing two characters navigate that gap with nothing but a pack of cigarettes and a fiercely loyal friendship is weirdly inspiring.
It’s a reminder that even when everything is falling apart, you can still find a way to laugh. Or at least find a way to get out of town.
Key Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning to dive back into this Texas fever dream, keep an eye out for a few things that make the film deeper than it looks on the surface.
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Pay attention to the background characters. The brother and his friends represent a darker path the girls are trying to avoid. They are the "anchor" that keeps pulling them back into the cycle of petty crime and stagnation.
Watch the color palette change. Notice how the colors shift from the drab, sickly yellows of the diner to the bright, hopeful blues as they get closer to their goal. It’s subtle, but it works on your subconscious.
Think about the lack of "adults." There are almost no responsible adults in this movie. The world of Never Goin' Back is one where the kids are entirely on their own, which explains why their decision-making is so skewed. They haven't been taught how to exist; they're just improvising.
How to Find This Movie Today
Currently, the film is available on most major VOD platforms and often pops up on services like Max or Showtime. If you're looking for a double feature, pair it with American Honey or The Florida Project. They all share that same DNA of "searching for beauty in the margins of America."
Don't go into it expecting a polished Hollywood ending. Go into it expecting a raw, unfiltered look at what happens when you have nothing left to lose except your best friend.
Practical Steps for Fans of Indie Film
If you enjoyed the vibe of this movie, there are a few things you can do to find more content like it:
- Follow the Director: Augustine Frizzell went on to direct the pilot of Euphoria. If you like the visual style of Never Goin' Back, you’ll see the seeds of Euphoria's aesthetic right here.
- Explore the A24 Catalog: Look for their "Florida" or "Texas" centric films. They have a knack for picking up stories about the American South and Southwest that feel authentic.
- Check out the Leads' Later Work: Camila Morrone in Daisy Jones & The Six shows a completely different side of her acting range, proving she wasn't just playing herself in this film.
- Support Local Independent Cinemas: These are the types of movies that thrive on the festival circuit. Supporting small theaters ensures that mid-budget, original stories like this keep getting made.
The movie isn't perfect. It’s loud, it’s crude, and it might make you want to wash your hands. But it’s also one of the most honest depictions of female friendship ever put on screen. It’s about the power of saying "screw it" and moving forward, even when you have no idea where you're going. That’s a feeling that never goes out of style.