“Never Let Go” is a horror survival and psychological thriller directed by the horror specialist, Alexander Aja. The film stars the renowned actress, Halle Berry, alongside two child stars, Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins. Set in the wilderness, this 101-minute film was produced with a budget of USD 20 million. What more can this film with a minimal cast offer to the genre?
The story follows a mother (Berry) and her two young sons, Nolan (Daggs) and Sam (Jenkins), who live in isolation in the wilderness. They have lived in an old house there for years, and her two sons have never seen the outside world at all. The mother claims that demons are targeting them and trying to possess their bodies in various forms. To leave the house, they use a long rope that must not be detached, as the demons will immediately target them. After years of living in the same pattern and with increasingly scarce food, Nolan becomes tired and bored, and eventually unintentionally does something that could endanger his family.
The story is reminiscent of “A Quiet Place” (2018), where the narrative unfolds without exposition in a situation that we completely do not understand. We don’t know what really happened, since when, and how they could be there? The threat is the only foundation of the story that we can hold onto, and even that leaves many unanswered questions. Are the demons seen by the mother real or imagined, or is this a psychological disorder? This is what makes the plot interesting and keeps the audience curious. The premise also has similarities to “The Watcher” which was released a few months ago, although the fantasy elements are stronger.
Like “A Quiet Place,” a plot with a minimal cast like this certainly requires talented actors. The Oscar winner, Halle Berry, is certainly not in doubt, and this is her best performance in a while. However, what steals the show is the acting of the two child stars who are incredibly impressive. Acting in a psychological thriller like this is certainly not easy for children their age. The expressions of these two child actors truly bring the atmosphere to life from moment to moment, especially the climax segment, which requires not only acting maturity but also physicality. These two actors, especially Percy Daggs, are able to perform brilliantly from the start.
“Never Let Go” has a unique premise that arouses curiosity throughout its duration with the support of its charming child cast. Compared to “A Quiet Place” which is full of action, “Never Let Go” is slower-paced and relies more on expressive dialogue. “A Quiet Place” is clearly more entertaining for the general audience. The strength of “Never Let Go” is built through mystery and tension, but there are still many questions about the story’s motives or even its subtext (message). Does this have a relation to race, family, or similar problems in the US that we have often seen in American films? It’s still difficult to interpret considering the minimal exposition of the story. A prequel story would be interesting, but only if this film is commercially successful, although it seems unlikely.
