Mother Land

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.

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!

This film is currently sitting at a 5.7 and I think that's criminally low. Not sure if anybody paid attention to the ending shot but that answers the question in no uncertain terms.

The question is whether or not the danger in the forest is real or just a figment of Halle Berry's imagination. It's a layered, heartfelt story of a woman and her two children living in isolation and what may very well be a case of a mother having ruined her life along with her two young sons due to untreated schizophrenia. Are there scary things in the woods? Are the ropes really protecting them? At different points in the film it's impossible to decide and it does keep you guessing until the end.

Halle Berry is competent as always but the two young actors are real standouts here. They've got some heavy lifting for such young inexperienced actors and they do a shockingly good job. From about the midpoint on they are essentially carrying the film.

Aside from some all around great acting the practical efx on the monsters in the Woods is refreshing. There is some small amount of CGI, but there's plenty of good old fashioned blood and makeup to make these creatures just strange looking enough to be mildly spooky.

Overall Never Let Go has a lot going for it. It's not the first film to toss around the question of whether or not mental illness is at the root of the horror. I admit it's a widely used trope in this genre. But this movie handles it more competently than many others. And again it's helped out by some great child actors. I'll be expecting to see more of those boys in the near future.

Solid 7/10 for me.

Alexandre Aya's "Never Let Go" is a serviceable horror film that offers a familiar blend of jump scares and haunted house tropes. While it doesn't break new ground, it delivers a solid performance from Halle Berry and a few tense moments.

The film is about a family trapped in their home, besieged by a mysterious, malevolent force. While the film does a decent job of building suspense and creating a claustrophobic atmosphere, it ultimately falls short of delivering anything truly original or terrifying.

Halle Berry delivers a solid performance as the determined mother, but the film's real strength lies in its depiction of the growing tension between the family members. The boys' fear and doubt slowly erode the trust and unity that once held them together, creating a palpable sense of dread.

Unfortunately, the film's pacing is a bit uneven, with some sequences feeling drawn-out and others moving too quickly. The climax, while tense, feels somewhat predictable and lacks the emotional impact it should.

I mean, this movie is not very good. The actors playing the boys make it watchable. Halle is not really given much to do or work with, but being a pro, she gives her best.

The premise is decent enough, but the tired troupes come fast and furious even though the pace is slower than an ice pack.

Probably better in a streaming service so you don't feel like you invested too much. If his is a film that passes the time, but will quickly be forgotten. In 6 months nobody will remember it, but then again, most films are average hence being average and this one is at least a 5/10 for the kids alone.

Stream it.