M4 files disappeared from MacBook Pro running macOS Sequoia 15.3.2

I recorded 33 short mp4 files yesterday. I saved them to a specific folder on an external SSD (Samsung T9). I also saved around 500 raw photo files to a different folder on the same drive. I created a project in Adobe Premiere Pro that included 3 of the clips and 52 of the photos. While working on timing/transitions between the photos, I got a message from Premiere Pro that the source of the video clips couldn't be found. I checked the folder in finder and it's completely empty. No issues with mp4 files from other days in different folders and no issue with any of my photos in various folders on the same drive.

Unfortunately, I had formatted the cards that the mp4 files were recorded on and rePicZVid isn't finding anything on them.

Do I have any reasonable ($) options for recovering these files or am I SOL?

M2 Max chip, 64GB RAM, running Sequoia 15.3.2. First Mac. Have owned various PCs for 27 years now and this never happened on a PC...

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