There is an unsettling feeling throughout Your Lips Never Left Mine that makes almost everything happening onscreen feel questionable. Written and directed by Matthew Kozlark, the indie mystery-thriller follows Lara, played by Cassandra Due, a young woman who takes a job tutoring Connor, played by Theodore Dalton, the son of a wealthy finance couple at their secluded summer lake house. What begins as a seemingly normal summer job quickly becomes more complicated as Lara realizes there is much more to this family than they are willing to reveal. The film slowly uncovers pieces of their past, creating a mystery filled with unexpected twists that keep the audience questioning who can actually be trusted.

The setting is a major part of what makes the film so compelling, and that was very intentional. In an interview for EBTV, Kozlark explains that the lake house inspired the story and has belonged to his family for generations. Located in Rock Hill, New York, the property is surrounded by woods and water, giving the film a natural sense of isolation. Kozlark wanted to build the story around the house itself, and that really comes through onscreen. Different rooms become important spaces within the mystery, while the lake and surrounding landscape make the characters feel increasingly removed from the outside world. The house almost becomes another character because so much of the tension depends on what may be hidden within this seemingly beautiful and peaceful place.

The film’s production makes the final result even more impressive. In the EBTV interview, Kozlark and producer, editor, and sound designer Felicia Ricci explain that they filmed primarily in one location over only fourteen days, with help from family and community members. Rather than making the film feel restricted, the single location fits the story extremely well. The handheld camerawork creates an uneasy feeling inside the house, while the drone and underwater shots expand the setting and give the lake a mysterious presence of its own.

The sound design also plays an important role in building suspense. There is a feeling that something is off almost from the beginning. Ricci explains in the interview that the film combines Foley effects with an original score that uses more modern sounds instead of a traditional orchestra. This works especially well during the quieter scenes, where the sound creates tension without becoming overly dramatic or making the suspense feel forced.

Due’s performance is one of the strongest parts of the film. She carries much of the story, making it easy to follow the mystery through Lara’s perspective. Her range brings depth to Lara as the tension builds. Dalton is just as compelling as Connor. His character heightens the family's foreboding, and watching Connor change throughout the story makes his performance even more interesting. Together, Due and Dalton create the sense that something is not quite right before the truth comes out.

Additionally, the script is also really strong, especially in the way it keeps changing what we think is actually happening. The twists are surprising, but they never feel like they are there just to shock us. Each reveal instead makes you look back at earlier moments differently. The isolated house, handheld camerawork, sound design, and performances all heighten the tension and the sense that something is off. The film does not rely on obvious scares to create suspense because, from the beginning, there is always this sense that something is being hidden from us.

As the opening film of the New Jersey Film Festival, Your Lips Never Left Mine is a very impressive independent thriller. With strong performances from Due and Dalton, carefully built suspense, and unexpected twists, the film keeps the audience questioning what is true until the very end.

Your Lips Never Left Mine screens at New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, September 4, 2026 – Online for 24 Hours on this date and In-Person at 7PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901! Get more info and buy tickets here.

The 45th Bi-annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place between September 4-October 4, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid as we will be presenting it online as well as doing select in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person shows when both are offered. We will also be offering an Audio-Visual Concert featuring Hanging Coats and Lawns as well as two FREE Filmmaking Workshops! The in-person screenings, the filmmaking workshops and the AV Concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 1PM, 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$100; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. The Filmmaking Workshops are FREE and open to the public but have limited seating and require advance registration. To register email us at [email protected]

For more info on the Film festival go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalfall2026.eventive.org/welcome