“Never Let Go” isn’t interested in reinventing familiar formulas when it comes to its disturbing twist on sinister ghosts visiting a remote cabin in the woods. With the inclusion of a protective mother and her two young children trying to escape an evil entity plaguing their world, it’s also not afraid to provoke minor comparisons to ‘Bird Box’. Yet director Alexandre Aja’s psychologically tense character forges his own path, throwing us into the middle of one family’s horrific, escalating crisis, cunningly drawing the fear from their interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts. While not all of its clever ideas come together efficiently in the finale, the thematic musings on grief, sanity, rebellion and redemption are intrinsically woven together to gripping, claustrophobic effect, heightening the hallucinatory horrors and dread-drenched atmospheric appeal.
Momma (Halle Berry) has hidden her young fraternal twins Samuel (Anthony B. Jenkins) and Nolan (Percy Daggs IV) in her parents’ remote, rustic cabin in the overgrown wilderness. The tall timber surrounding the property acts as a cage, keeping the trio confined within the confines of the bark and branches. But instead of imprisoning them, it actually keeps the horrors of society at bay.
According to Mom, the world around them is infested with evil, and dastardly demons lurk, seeking to possess their pure hearts as soon as they step off their porch steps. The trio must tie themselves to the house with a long, thick rope when they leave and, on their return, perform a series of daily rituals – such as praying while touching a decorative door in the floor and meditating in the small storage room below – to ensure that their off-the-grid sanctuary continues to function mystically.
Unfortunately, this close-knit family’s hermetic existence begins to crack after a treacherous trek outside to earn a living leads to Samuel inadvertently slipping off the leash and breaking an ankle, while Nolan drops the cable to save his brother . Mom, of course, swoops in to save the pair from a sinister snake-tongued devil disguised as her dead mother (Kathryn Kirkpatrick), who taunts her but can’t touch her. Only Mom sees this menacing vision, causing Nolan to question the monsters she keeps warning them about in her grim bedtime stories, leaving them generally docile. He suspects his mother is doing more harm than good. As Nolan tries to sell Samuel out for questioning Mom’s authority, their food supply dwindles due to harsh environmental changes. And just when their situation reaches its most difficult moment, a change takes place in the relationship between the brothers, weakening their strong bond.
As evidenced by Aja’s previous films, ranging from ‘High Tension’ to his remake ‘The Hills Have Eyes’, the French genre director’s strength lies in stories about ordinary people trapped in seemingly insurmountable, nightmarish experiences. Each story is told for brevity, streamlining the pace and twists of the story. The same can be said of the way Aja fearlessly explores similarly bleak circumstances in “Never Let Go,” sensing how she can tap into the shared universal fears of both the characters and the audience as they seek their survival.
Aja and screenwriters KC Coughlin and Ryan Grassby deliver lean, mean, and tightly constructed scenarios for their trouble-plagued protagonists, heightening both tension and empathy. We genuinely care about their riddles and simmering conflicts, awaiting the bleak day when their resources run out – shown through a time-lapse montage, as their pantry and coffers are ravaged by time. Editor Elliot Greenberg’s pieces, composer Rob’s dissonant synth-heavy score, and DP Maxime Alexandre’s cool-toned lighting prepare us for doom.
Things escalate when a starving Samuel and Nolan are confronted with a tense fight-or-flight catalyst involving the family dog. This is also where the work of Jenkins and Daggs shines. A lot of responsibility is placed on their little shoulders to carry the film with the naturalism and introspection they bring to the material. The young actors deliver heartbreaking vulnerability and nuanced, compelling performances.
The film’s scares are not limited to cheap jump scares caused by creepy creatures, although unfortunately they are present. Rather, the more horrific aspects return to the way the insidiousness of evil tears this happy, loving family apart. It breeds doubt, disagreement and deception, leading to deep-seated, heated arguments and hellish outcomes. There is considerable resonance in the tension of the main conflict between mother, who is desperate to protect her sons from the evil she has witnessed, and her boys, whose split beliefs are tested in the third act. Berry brilliantly humanizes and grounds this flawed mother figure, gifting her with humor, wisdom, and a rich interiority. To a lesser actor, Mom’s cruel punishments would seem campy. But in Berry’s hands, this woman’s blunt stoicism masks deep pain and possibly a struggle with mental illness. Her actions, scars, and sick tattoos provide unspoken clues about Mom’s upbringing, rebellion, and penance.
From the start of our journey to the final seconds before the credits, we continually guess whether these monsters are real or evil manifestations brought on by cabin fever. It seems intended to encourage debate, as there are truly terrible evils in the world. However, if there’s one thing this fantastic campfire story lacks, it’s a smart, satiating ending. It’s probably the only time “Never Let Go” loses its grip on us.
