NEVER LET GO

"Never Let Go" (2024) – A Haunting Exploration of Survival, Paranoia, and Motherhood

Never Let Go, directed by Alexandre Aja and starring Halle Berry, is a psychological survival horror film that blends maternal instinct, supernatural dread, and emotional unraveling into a tense and atmospheric experience. Set in an isolated forest, the story centers on a fiercely protective mother—referred to only as “Momma”—and her twin sons, Nolan and Sam, who live in complete seclusion, tethered together by ropes to protect themselves from an unseen evil.

From the opening scene, the film establishes a claustrophobic and eerie tone. The family lives by a strict set of survivalist rules: never go outside alone, never remove the tethers, and never stop believing in the threat that lurks beyond the trees. Halle Berry delivers a commanding and emotionally charged performance as Momma, whose obsessive need to protect her sons borders on the unhinged. Her portrayal captures both the strength and the desperation of a woman battling not only a mysterious external threat but also the trauma that festers inside her mind.

The cinematography heightens the tension, with dark, misty forest backdrops and the cold, creaking isolation of the wooden cabin. Cinematographer Maxime Alexandre uses shadows and tight framing to build a sense of entrapment, both physical and psychological. The horror elements are slow-burning and psychological, with the audience never fully sure whether the "Evil" is a real supernatural presence or a figment of Momma’s fractured psyche.

As the film progresses, cracks begin to form in the family's world. The twin boys, played by Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins, begin to question their mother’s rules and the true nature of their isolation. Their performances are sincere and nuanced, lending emotional weight to the central conflict of trust versus truth. The dynamic between the three leads carries the film, offering both heart and tension.

What makes Never Let Go distinct is its refusal to settle into a single genre. At times it feels like a creature feature, with glimpses of a dark, slithering entity, but it also functions as a psychological study of trauma, grief, and control. The film walks a fine line between ambiguity and clarity, keeping viewers guessing about what’s real and what’s imagined.

The final act veers into symbolic territory, with a surreal and emotional climax that ties the story to themes of generational trauma and healing. While some viewers may find the ending open-ended or frustrating, it ultimately reinforces the film’s central question: how far would a mother go to protect her children, and at what cost?

Never Let Go may not appeal to those looking for straightforward horror thrills, but it excels as a slow-burn, emotionally charged tale of survival and paranoia. With strong performances, eerie visuals, and a deeply personal narrative, the film lingers in the mind like a haunting memory. It is a story about fear, love, and the blurry line between protection and control—an unsettling, powerful film that dares to ask: what happens when letting go is the only way forward?