Halle Berry leads a cringe-inducing horror that makes for a better family drama

Never let go
Is the kind of film you have to go into knowing almost nothing about. Directed by Alexandra Aja from a screenplay by Kevin Coughlin and Ryan Grassby, the Halle Berry-led horror film is a lesson in patience. The film, which is mostly set in and around a home in the woods, successfully separates us and its characters from the outside world. This forces us to think about its themes and setting, as well as the evil that lurks – real or perceived – just outside its door. This horror film has an engrossing premise that remains engaging even in its lulls.

Set in an unspecified future, Never let go Follows the mother (Barry) of twin sons, Sam (Anthony B. Jenkins) and Nolan (Percy Daggs IV), and their secluded life in the woods. Barry’s character, whose name is never mentioned, is convinced that there is an evil that exists beyond the house and only her childhood home – and the wood it is built from – can protect her family from it. When one of the characters go out to hunt or chop wood, they are attached to their home with a long rope to prevent the evil from touching them.

Never let go keeps us guessing

We are often caught between believing that there are evil beings that take human form and can transfer their evil through touch, even if only Barry’s character can See them. With the family so isolated, the mind tricks and tension are heightened, and things become especially disturbing when Nolan starts to rebel against his mother’s wishes, Throwing a wrench in the family dynamic. The film is less of a horror in this regard; It’s more of a psychological thriller that keeps us guessing.

Sure, there are quite a few bloody figures that plague Barry throughout the film, but the story is most gripping when it’s focused on the tensions that affect familial relationships. The characters go through enough mental gymnastics to explain certain things, or, in Nolan’s case, poke holes in his mother’s reasoning to keep us on edge. The family drama is compelling as the mother grapples with her sons growing up and asking questions, and Never let go Touches on the themes of parental control and protection against a child’s push for independence.

The film also flirts with the idea of ​​what evil really is. Is it something that we can see and that can take us over, or is it something that is already within us, preying on our most troubling thoughts and fears? It leaves us with the answers, but the filmmaking team does a great job of establishing a sense of irony that never lets up, and the ending especially leaves us guessing and questioning everything that came before. split into three different segments, Never let go can be captivating as it strips its characters down to primal instincts.

Never Let Go features excellent performances from his young Castle

And while there are moments that affect the film’s momentum, it still manages to entertain

That said, Aja’s film isn’t necessarily consistent either. There are lulls in the story as it gears up for some of the bigger moments in the narrative, and certain elements can become a bit repetitive as the film approaches its conclusion. As for the horror, there aren’t any true jump-scares, though there are gasp-worthy moments. The story seems caught between wanting to lean into the apocalyptic aspects and teetering on the edge of uncertainty. It sometimes makes it difficult to fully engage with its talking points, because it cannot fully communicate what it is asking us to think about.

But it’s also not so decisive that it affects the viewing experience or makes it less unsettling. Never let go It’s good to play with our emotions, and I wanted to shout at each character at various points, depending on what they were doing or wanted. At the same time, I wanted them to connect. This is largely due to the performance of the cast. Barry is unsurprisingly excellent, balancing a wild-eyed protective instinct with perseverance and a chilling fear that is enhanced by a rigidity that permeates Her performance with an anxiety that is deeply felt.

The real scene stealers, however, are Jenkins and Daggs. They both give dedicated performances that speak to the gravity of their situation. With young actors, their performances can be hit or miss, but Daggs and Jenkins both excel in their roles. Daggs is the son who is willing to take risks if it means knowing the world beyond the world he always lived in, and his take on the character – caring yet pathetic and stubborn – is crucial to the film’s narrative.

Jenkins plays Sam with an abundance of fear and mistrust, but there’s a good amount of chaotic nature subtly sandwiched into his performance. The brothers clearly love each other, though Never let go Breeds enough turmoil between them to give the story some stakes. The film doesn’t work on every level, but there’s enough intrigue and compelling character dynamics to carry it to an ending that’s sure to be a conversation starter. As far as films focused on evil go, Aja’s is certainly a thoroughly fascinating one.

Never let go Will be in theaters on September 20. The film is 101 minutes long and rated R for strong violent content and gruesome images.