JP Nunez
If you’re a hardcore horror fan, you know the name Alexandre Aja. Sure, not all of his movies are bangers (I’m looking at you, The Hills Have Eyes remake), but he’s definitely made a name for himself in the genre. I especially enjoy his 2019 animal-attack film Crawl, so when I heard he was back for a more (seemingly) supernatural thrill ride, I was instantly intrigued. I couldn’t wait to see what post-apocalyptic chills Never Let Go had up its sleeve, and now that I’ve seen the movie, I’m happy to report that I had a pretty good time with it.
Never Let Go was directed by the aforementioned Alexandre Aja, and it stars Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, and Anthony B. Jenkins. The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious evil force has nearly exterminated the human race, and it follows an unnamed woman (called Momma in the credits) and her twin boys, Nolan and Sam, as they do their best to survive.
Their house protects them from the malevolent entity that stalks the land, and whenever they go outside, they ward the thing off with ropes tied to the house’s foundation. Interestingly, Sam and Nolan can’t see this demonic creature, so they have to take their mother’s word for it, and at one point in the story, Nolan starts to question whether it exists at all.
If you’re like me, you might think the entire premise of Never Let Go sounds a bit fishy. A house and some pieces of rope that can protect against an evil supernatural force? That’s a tough pill to swallow, and when you learn that Momma is the only one who can see this thing, you’ll start to suspect that this is a The Village-esque situation where civilization lies just beyond the edge of the forest.
In fact, the more you learn about this woman, the less you trust her. To take just one example, there’s a scene where she relates a very telling story from her childhood. She says the unseen force once came to her in the form of a young girl crying out for help, and when she ignored it, the thing stayed there and pretended to die and rot.
I don’t know about you, but to me, that just screams mental instability. This evil entity is clearly all in her head, so she’s unintentionally abusing her poor sons…or is she? Despite all these clues that Never Let Go is more psychological than supernatural, there’s one scene that seems to point in the other direction. Early on in the story, Sam and Nolan are walking alone outside, and Nolan hears his brother comment that their mother loves him more.
But when Nolan questions him, Sam denies saying anything, so you can’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, there really is something unnatural lurking in these woods. It’s only a slight possibility, but given that this is a movie and not real life, it’s enough to make you think. It keeps you guessing until the very end, and director Alexandre Aja uses that uncertainty to create some incredibly tense moments.
Most notably, there’s a scene where the family meets a stranger traveling through the woods, and while the guy seems perfectly non-demonic, you can’t help but suspect that he might actually be the malevolent entity. In fact, his calm and pleasant demeanor just makes the whole situation even more harrowing, and Aja manages to squeeze every possible ounce of horror from this seemingly innocuous exchange.
That being said, I do think Never Let Go is a bit too committed to maintaining its ambiguity. I can’t get into specifics without spoiling the third act, but suffice it to say that the movie tries to have its cake and eat it, and it doesn’t entirely work. This story ends up having too many loose ends to be entirely coherent, so it’s not exactly the movie’s strong point.
Thankfully though, Alexandre Aja executes it so well that it’s still a really fun watch. I already mentioned the way he plays on your uncertainty to create suspense, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He also uses eerie music and nifty cinematography to make the woods surrounding the house feel genuinely alive, and when the sun goes down, that feeling multiplies exponentially. The place becomes a waking nightmare in itself, and it makes for a number of surprisingly effective jump scares.
Along similar lines, Never Let Go also features some of the creepiest imagery I’ve seen in a theater this year. When Halle Berry’s character sees the evil presence, it takes various forms, but there’s one in particular that just might send a chill or two down your spine. It’s the woman’s mother, but she looks like she’s been zombified, and she has a forked tongue. This monster is legitimately hair-raising, so if you’re a fan of horrific imagery, you’re going to absolutely love it.
Last but not least, we have to talk about the acting in Never Let Go. Let’s start with Momma. She’s played by Halle Berry, and she’s just as good as you’d expect. Even before the malevolent entity rears its ugly head, you can tell that this woman is genuinely terrified of it, and when this thing finally makes its presence known, you can almost feel the fear emanating from her.
Likewise, the two kids, Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins, also nail their roles as Sam and Nolan. They have the kind of chemistry that makes you believe they’re really twin brothers, and just like their on-screen mother, they completely sell you on every emotional beat they’re asked to hit.
Along with the fun horror, these awesome performances help Never Let Go overcome its narrative weaknesses, so I walked out of the theater a happy man. Sure, this isn’t one of the best movies of the year, and I would by no means call it a must-see, but if you’re in the mood to be spooked out, it’s definitely worth a watch.
Never Let Go is playing in theaters right now.
