Never Let Go

Never Let Go starts with an intriguing premise: a mother in a post-apocalyptic world fights to protect her children from bloodthirsty creatures by keeping them tied to a rope. If they let go, they're attacked. However, despite this interesting concept, the movie fails to create the tense atmosphere the story demands. Instead of pulling us into a truly dangerous and desperate situation, the film loses focus and struggles to convey the real threat the characters face.

The plot twists are another weak point. Some are too predictable, and from early on, I felt like I could guess where the story was heading. Though I'm not entirely sure, because the ending is especially confusing and poorly explained, leaving us without a clear conclusion - as if the writer wasn't sure what message they wanted to convey.

Director Alexandre Aja has proven capable of crafting good films with simpler themes, like the remake of The Hills Have Eyes, High Tension, or Piranha 3D, but whenever he tackles more complex narratives, such as in Horns, he tends to fall short. In his case, "less is more" really applies.

That said, I have to admit the different approach might attract viewers looking for something unusual. However, for me, this film didn't hit the mark. There was a moment of real tension involving the fate of an animal that made me anxious, but aside from that, I felt indifferent in about 80% of the situations.

It's far from terrible due to the original concept that sets it apart from other films in this subgenre, but it lacks the essential ingredients to truly stand out or leave a lasting impression.

Never Let Go had the potential to be a good movie but it has flaws what brought the ratings down. I think most of the people, myself included, were not happy with the ending which was open to interpretation. I like clear endings, no nonsense, not have to think about what was real and what not, and in this movie there are questions unanswered which is a pity to be honest because for the rest it wasn't bad. Good acting from Halle Berry and from the two kids Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins. As for the horror there are not much of those scenes but the ones that were there were interesting and well made. The movie is good enough to watch once.

How far would a mother go to protect her kids? Here's another psychological thriller for your viewing pleasure. NEVER LET GO is about a mother (Halle Berry) and her two sons Nolan (Percy Daggs IV) and Sam (Anthony B. Jenkins). They live in a cabin in the woods, separated from a now dead world. There is an evil presence around them, and they only way to be safe in to be tied to a rope that's connected to the foundation of the house. This poses many questions: What the hell happened? Why can only the mom see the evil? What happens if the evil touches you? Is this a subtle metaphor for COVID? Is it even real? I like how when the audience has these questions, the kids also have questions. This movie kept me guessing for the majority of the time. The acting is great for everybody. The atmosphere is dense and feels claustrophobic. Apparently, it was filmed right here in the woods of Vancouver, BC. The story could've gone a few different ways, and I would've chosen something different. The jump-scares are annoying, but I enjoyed the scares that came from the background of shots. With so many movies coming out this season, this one could be seen at home all cuddled up with a blanket and some snacks. Remember, don't listen to Elsa from FROZEN, and NEVER LET GO.

Never let go is an intriguing, mentally draining psychological horror that quickly hooks you with a central question: is Halle Berry's character losing her mind, or is there something more sinister at play? It's a slow burn where you constantly have to guess what is real and what isn't. The premise is interesting, and for the most part, it keeps you engaged.

The biggest problem I had with the movie, however, would have to be the third act. Prepared to question all that's throughout, it feels like there wasn't much resolution at the very end. It doesn't have the closure I was looking for; instead, it just leaves us with more questions. Some people like that mystery, but for me, it was just the slightest bit more explanation or one additional scene needed to help wrap up things nicely.

That said, it's still worth watching, if not for any other reason than for those who love a good slow burn, psychologically thrilling plot. Just be prepared for an ending that may not be as satisfactory of a wrap-up as it could be.

6.8/10 (Recommend)

I don't think this movie is bad, but for all the tension it creates I feel that the ending isn't the complete justice that is being sought for. A story about a family who can't leave the safety of their house without a rope around them because an evil lurks in the forest. Everything comes into question when one of the children begin to question if the evil is real.

Halle Berry is pretty decent in this film, but I don't think it's her performance that carries the story. It's Anthony B. Jenkins and Percy Daggs IV that make you care the slightest about the come of things. They may be young, and I wouldn't call this their strongest performance, but they have lots of potential as actors.

The music is pretty top notch for creating the fear and tension. It knows how to elevate the visuals in ways that seeing things alone won't help. Though the cinematography is good in creating that tension and unknown as well.

I would watch this again because it gave me the heebie jeebies just enough to feel frightened at times, but I wasn't overly unsettled that I couldn't see an outcome a mile away. There's a terrific score that trumps everything and enhances the story. While the ending is kind of anti-climatic it was acceptable for me and I didn't hate myself for sitting through the film.

That's it for now. Thanks for taking time to read my review. Happy watching and enjoy the show!