Never let go

In Alexandre Aja's latest film, Never Let Go, Halle Berry delivers a remarkable performance as a mother desperately trying to protect her two sons, Percy Daggs IV (Nolan) and Anthony B. Jenkins (Samuel), from a terrifying, unseen evil lurking in the wild. The film blends elements of post-apocalyptic survival and psychological horror, creating a thick atmosphere of tension and dread. The film attempts to explore the fragile boundaries between madness, faith and the supernatural, but while initially promising, it ultimately stumbles under the weight of its lofty ambitions.

Never Let Go tells the story of a family bound by bonds both literal and metaphorical. Living in isolation in a remote, dilapidated cabin, Halle Berry's character, known only as Momma, insists that her children never stray far from the ropes that bind them to their home. These ropes, she believes, are the only thing protecting them from an evil force that has decimated the world beyond their door. This setting, imbued with existential dread, immediately engages the viewer, drawing them into a world where safety is constantly under threat and the line between reality and illusion is very thin.

Halle Berry's portrayal of a mother on the brink of psychological collapse is the film's most striking element. She oscillates between protection and paranoia, portraying a woman whose fierce love for her children has driven her to adopt extreme, even irrational measures to ensure their survival. Halle Berry's performance is nuanced, conveying both the tenderness of maternal care and the terror of someone who believes she is the last defense against a malevolent, invisible enemy. Her character is deeply flawed, but Berry imbues her with enough humanity and emotional depth to keep audiences sympathetic, even as we begin to question her grip on reality.

Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins are equally convincing as his sons, Nolan and Samuel. Daggs, in particular, delivers a remarkable performance as the more skeptical of the two brothers, his growing doubts about his mother's rules providing much of the film's tension. Jenkins Daggs IV, meanwhile, plays Samuel with quiet vulnerability, embodying a child torn between loyalty to his mother and fear of the unknown. Together, the actors create a believable family dynamic, with moments of tension, fear and affection that feel authentic and grounded.

Director Alexandre Aja, known for his work in the horror genre with films such as High Tension and Crawl, makes a visually arresting film. Maxime Alexandre's cinematography captures the claustrophobic isolation of the family's existence, using wide shots of the dense forest to create a sense of both dread and menace. The cabin itself, dilapidated and worn, becomes a character in its own right, both sanctuary and prison. Alexandre Aja's direction in the early parts of the film is taut, expertly balancing suspense and psychological intrigue, as we wonder whether the danger is external or internal.

But it's the screenplay, written by KC Coughlin and Ryan Grassby, that the film lacks. The script sets up a fascinating premise, building on themes of fear, control and survival, but it never fully exploits them. There are hints of deeper psychological and metaphorical layers - the exploration of motherhood as a form of protection and imprisonment, or the trauma of raising black children in a world full of real and imagined dangers - but these ideas aren't fully developed. Instead, the film relies too heavily on its supernatural elements, leaving the more compelling psychological drama underexplored.

As Never Let Go progresses, the narrative becomes increasingly fragmented. The tension between Nolan's growing skepticism and his mother's unshakeable belief in the evil outside the house is well-constructed, but the film's third act undermines much of this tension by opting for a more conventional approach to horror. The final twist, meant to shock and unsettle, feels more like a misstep that dilutes the psychological complexity established earlier. What could have been a profound exploration of the fragility of the mind under duress becomes a somewhat predictable descent into genre tropes.

That said, Never Let Go is not without its merits. The technical elements of the film are superb. The Robin Coudert's score is haunting, a minimalist arrangement that reinforces the film's sinister atmosphere without overpowering the images. The sound design is equally effective, using silence and subtle noises to build suspense. The film's pacing in the first two acts is deliberate, allowing for moments of quiet tension that are more unsettling than any jump scares that follow.

Jeremy Stanbridge's production design adds to the film's eerie ambience. The cabin, with its creaking wood and dimly lit interiors, resembles a living organism, full of secrets and dangers. The surrounding forest is dense and ominous, evoking a primal fear of the unknown. This world seems both real and nightmarish, and Aja uses it to good effect to create the oppressive sense of dread that pervades much of the film.

Never Let Go is a film that promises more than it delivers. It's at its best when exploring the psychological horror of its characters - when the real terror isn't the evil outside the house, but the fear, doubt and trauma inside it. Unfortunately, these themes are sacrificed in favor of more traditional horror elements, and the film's conclusion feels rushed and unsatisfying. Alexandre Aja's direction and Halle Berry's performance raise the film's level, but they don't entirely compensate for a script that loses its way. Despite its flaws, Never Let Go remains an intriguing film in the realm of psychological horror. It may not reach the heights of Alexandre Aja's best work, but it's a film that, in its strongest moments, offers genuine suspense and sobering drama. It reminds us of the fine line between protection and control, between love and fear - a line that, once crossed, can have terrifying consequences.

Never Let Go
Directed by Alexandre Aja
Written by Kevin Coughlin, Ryan Grassby
Produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Alexandre Aja, Dan Levine
Starring Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins, Matthew Kevin Anderson, Christin Park, Stephanie Lavigne
Cinematography : Maxime Alexandre
Edited by Elliot Greenberg
Music by Robin “Rob” Coudert
Production companies : 21 Laps Entertainment, HalleHolly, Media Capital Technologies
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), Metropolitan FilmExport (France)
Release dates : September 16, 2024 (Regal Times Square), September 20, 2024 (United States), September 25, 2024 (United States),
Running time : 101 minutes

Seen September 30, 2024 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 16 seat A19

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