Lionsgate
Alexandre Aja, a filmmaker known for his unique style and genre-bending approach, has always found ways to surprise and unsettle his audience with his films. His career is dotted with works such as the brutal slashers “High Tension” and “The Hills Have Eyes,” the unabashedly exploitative “Piranha 3D,” and the suspense-filled “Crawl” and “Oxygen.”
In his latest work, “Never Let Go,” Aja continues to explore suspense as a genre. The film follows a mother (Halle Berry) and her twin sons, Nolan (Percy Daggs IV) and Sam (Anthony B. Jenkins), the last survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. Living in an old wooden house deep in the forest, they must tether themselves to their home whenever they venture outside, their only defense against an evil force that has consumed the world.
Despite its premise and trailer suggesting similarities with the “A Quiet Place” series, “Never Let Go” is a different beast altogether. It unfolds like a fractured fairy tale, revealing new layers and surprises that distinguish it from other horror films.
The fairy tale begins from the first frames of Never Let Go
Lionsgate
“Never Let Go” differs from Aja’s other works like “High Tension” in that it doesn’t mislead the audience into believing they’re watching one story when it’s actually another. The film is filled with twists and reveals, but it’s not a simple twist movie. From the first minute, Nolan’s voice-over narration begins to lay the groundwork for the fairy tale-like narrative, indicating a departure from strict naturalism. Despite some heavy-handed moments, “Never Let Go” remains true to its influences and aesthetic vision.
The film blends elements of fairy tales and horror, a combination seen in several horror movies this year. If “Longlegs” is an urban legend and “The Front Room” combines cultural mythology with the evil stepmother trope, “Never Let Go” explores the fragile state of its family unit through campfire tale logic mixed with religious zealotry.
As the story unfolds, we see Nolan growing suspicious of their isolated life in the remote woods. In addition to the paranoia and survivalist aspects, “Never Let Go” examines faith, much like Rose Glass’ “Saint Maud,” presenting belief in what seems like a bizarre and illogical system through the eyes of the faithful.
A self-effacing cast led by Halle Berry
Lionsgate
The film’s three leads deliver performances that are notably devoid of vanity. Jenkins and Daggs, in particular, are standout performers, their intensity and vulnerability allowing them to command the screen. Berry, meanwhile, continues to make bold choices as an actress. In “Never Let Go,” she’s unapologetically herself, neither seeking to make her character likable nor wholly understandable.
A haunting film by Aja if you meet it halfway
Lionsgate
“Never Let Go” is a complex film that may frustrate audiences seeking a straightforward horror experience. However, if you’re willing to meet the film halfway, it becomes compelling and eerie. Aja’s sense of timing and his knack for creating unsettling demonic zombie creatures make for a film that’s both immediately visceral and lingeringly haunting.
/Film Rating: 8.5 out of 10
“Never Let Go” opens September 20, 2024 in theaters everywhere.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
