July 7, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Film Review: Never Let Go

FILM REVIEW
NEVER LET GO
Rated R
101 Minutes
Released September 20th

French director Alexandre Aja has become a rising star of today’s horror film genre. However, I don’t see his Never Let Go as a horror film – I feel it’s a psychological thriller, which is what makes it even more unsettling. Filmed from April to June 2023 in Vancouver BC, functioning as a “stand-in” for rural Tennessee, the movie sets up a place of intense isolation borne from a mental health crisis, which is frighteningly realistic. 

The story surrounds the extreme lengths a mother will go to protect her children. It was one of those films conceived during the pandemic which explores isolation and its effects on human psyche and imagination. The story may catch you off guard for two reasons: the assumption that you are going to see a formulaic horror movie, and our societal assumption that our home is a place of safety. You will find that “love” is a key word here, the love for a mother and the love for a home.

Director Aja’s real name is Alexandre Jouan-Arcady. Born in Paris, he is the son of director Alexandre Arcady and movie critic Marie-Jo Jouan. He has been involved in the entertainment business since childhood, acting in his dad’s films. He started directing at age 18 and rose to international acclaim for his 2003 horror film Haute Tension

After seeing that film, famed director Wes Craven asked Aja to form a concept for his film, The Hills Have Eyes (2006) and then chose him to direct that film, so Aja learned from the best. Aja has also directed several acclaimed horror movies, including Crawl (2019). He was nominated for horror film awards in 2006 and 2010.

Never Let Go has a very small but powerful cast, who carry the movie on their shoulders with ease. Halle Berry stars as a complex, excruciatingly troubled mother of two boys, and manages to radiate a look of normalcy that reveals that in her own eyes, she is calmly facing a terrifying “reality.” Berry was also a producer on the film, and as such, she knew that the successful casting of the two boys who play her sons was paramount to the integrity of the film. Aja noted, “She really pushed us to keep looking until we actually found these amazing young actors.” Percy Daggs IV who plays “Nolan” and Anthony B. Jenkins as “Sam” both give astounding performances. The interchanges between their characters are beautifully written and show subtle hints to their personality differences, along with the often-intense dynamics you would see in real brothers. 

Their performances also reflect the skill of the director and of fellow cast member Berry. The two boys had to work especially hard at physical acting, to master working with a heavy rope to appear as if they had been using it their whole lives. I feel the need to mention another cast member who often steals his scenes – a dog named “Coda” who is played by an excellent canine thespian named “Brass.”

A recurring theme in Aja’s films seems to be characters trapped in a limited space. Aja says of the script for this film, “it reminded me of a classic fairy tale, but it was still connected to our world.” The camera’s depiction of the peaceful serenity of the woods, also another element of many fairy tales, takes over the screen at times as a counterpoint to the unsettled emotions inside the house. The ode to the house that the boys must repeat whenever they stray from the rules, is also a contrast with the nature of their lives within the four walls. It functions as their prayer that they must recite to regain security. Never Let Go plays on the universal fear of being confined and alone in the world with no one to help.

Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people.  She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com

<>Related Posts

Hama Sushi Hosts Weekly Music and Comedy Open Mics

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The venue, a Venice Beach staple since 1979, has recently expanded its legendary happy hour to the entire patio Hama...

Connections Breakfast to Network Local Business Professionals in Malibu

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The event, sponsored by Malibu Country Mart, will feature a breakfast mixer where attendees can meet new contacts  A Connections...

12th Annual Gopher Scramble Golf Tournament to Benefit Venice Heritage Museum

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The museum opened to the public in March 2024 at the Main Street Design Center with its inaugural exhibition, “This...

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Ruskin Group Theatre to Stage ‘The Fantasticks’

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

A timeless tale of young love and life’s bittersweet beauty, the show is reimagined with modern flair for contemporary audiences...

Film Review: F1: The Movie

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

FILM REVIEWF1: THE MOVIERated PG-13155 MinutesReleased June 27th F1: The Movie will envelop you in a racecar. You will be...

Big Blue Bus Launches Prohibition Order Program to Bolster Safety

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

The orders, which can range from 30 days to one year, target offenses that threaten the safety and comfort of...

Col. Eric Swenson Honored by LA for Historic Debris Removal Effort

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Swenson, with a distinguished military background including a Ph.D. and multiple master’s degrees from Penn State and other institutions, has...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles. Go...

(Video) Gladstone’s Malibu Prepares for Reopening after Surviving Palisades Fires

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

With One Half of its Structure Slightly Charred and Undergoing Repairs, Gladstone’s Malibu is Reopening its Patio Space Just in...

Santa Monica Public Library Launches Community Mapping Survey

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

The initiative aims to shape the library’s programs and services to better meet community needs, fostering an inclusive and accessible...

Third Street Promenade Loses Bibibop Asian Grill

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Bibibop opened at the Santa Monica location in 2017 after taking over a former ShopHouse space Bibibop Asian Grill, a...

Proposed Rebuilding Authority for Wildfire Recovery Sparks Local Control Debate

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Plan Aims to Streamline Rebuilding but Raises Questions Over Community Input A proposed “Resilient Rebuilding Authority” to oversee recovery from...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150 National Guard...