NEVER LET GO is a 2024 survival horror thriller film directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Crawl) from a screenplay by Kevin Coughlin and Ryan Grassby.
A family consisting of a mother and her twin sons has suffered from the torment of a malicious spirit for many years. However, when one of the boys starts to doubt the existence of the evil, the family's sacred bond is broken, leading to a dangerous fight for survival.
The cast includes Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, and Anthony B. Jenkins.
NEVER LET GO made its debut in theaters September 20th, courtesy of Lionsgate.
The name Alexandre Aja deserves some some serious praise especially among horror fans for some of the gems he has churned out over the years. Making a name for himself with cult classic horror films like The Hills Have Eyes (2006) and Horns (2013), Aja has a very specific vision and a passion for horror. He likes to terrorize viewers with intense visuals and he sticks to what he knows with NEVER LET GO.
As a massive fan of the horror genre this movie satisfied me in many different ways, including a thought-provoking screenplay, terrific acting, well-timed jump scares, and some very creepy visuals. I like the survival horror genre and NEVER LET GO feels in many ways like a blend between A Quiet Place and 10 Cloverfield Lane, with the addition of more pure horror. I love to be scared and want horror movies to be intense, and let me just say that if you are sensitive to the horror genre this movie will keep you up at night.
The stage is set smoothly for the screenplay thanks to a convincing cast and the perfect setting. I tried to avoid watching all of the trailers just in case they gave anything away, so I feel like I went in not knowing what to expect. The film opens with some brief narration to give viewers a good idea of what is going on without giving too much away. A primary strength of the screenplay is the fact that it keeps viewers guessing right up until the films conclusion. Some viewers may find themselves frustrated with the lack of clear answers, but I am a fan of a film that forces you to really think about how a film ended and what it all means.
The cast is on another level with NEVER LET GO, led by the generational talent that is Halle Berry, and she was nothing short of fantastic here. Berry is such a force in this film making every bit of the story feel like it holds some serious weight. She is on another level with the intensity she brings to her character. I was genuinely impressed with young actors Anthony B. Jenkins and Percy Daggs IV who play the children of Halle Berry’s character. Both are incredibly convincing and I never felt like they came across as
From a technical standpoint NEVER LET GO looks fantastic thanks to top-tier production value, a very effective score/soundtrack, impressive cinematography, and really great visuals. It takes a lot to make me jump or react a certain way to something and I was very impressed with how terrifying the visuals were in this film. NEVER LET GO utilizes flashbacks or dream sequences to really male viewers uneasy, and just the psychological head games the film plays with viewers helps to continuously blur the lines of reality. I also loved the setting and thought the set design was amazing, making for a very immersive post-apocalyptic feel.
THE VERDICT
A well-crafted post-apocalyptic horror thriller featuring The Hills Have Eyes director Alexandre Aja’s signature terrifying visuals, NEVER LET GO keeps viewers invested thanks to stellar acting and an engaging premise. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in but this was well worth a trip to the theater.
TED TAKES RATING - 7.1/10
NEVER LET GO is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.