Friday, September 27, 2024

Never Let Go (2024) * 1/2

 


Directed by:  Alexandre Aja

Starring:  Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, Anthony Jenkins

Never Let Go is a post-apocalyptic tale of a woman who lives in the forest with her two sons and is forever trying to keep them safe from "the evil".  They live in a log cabin with no electricity or running water and the three tether themselves with rope to the cabin so they can't stray far.  However, one of the boys starts to doubt whether the evil monsters which tormented their mother even exist.  

Halle Berry plays the mother as a haunted, tortured woman who is either mentally unstable or terrified because she's telling the truth.  The performances are effective even if the movie eventually crumbles under the heavy-handed plot.  The ending reveals the reality of their unfortunate situation, or part of it anyway.  Like many movies in which the protagonist is seemingly insane, it is unlikely that the surprise ending will confirm that notion.  Until that point, Never Let Go plods along like it is fighting against the fog which envelops the forest. 

Never Let Go is not exciting, but sleepy.  Director Aja tries his best to invoke a chilly atmosphere, but the movie never lifts off.   It's not poorly made, but the story doesn't match the production values. 


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