Director Alexandre Aja’s known for (The Hills Have Eyes, The 9th Life of Louis Drax) Piranha), highly anticipated psychological horror film Never Let Go starring Academy Award® winner Halle Berry opens in UK cinemas today, offering fans of the genre a chilling and suspenseful experience. Aja, known for his meticulous timing, delivers the suspense, as the film expertly builds tension with moments designed to keep audiences on edge and on the edge of their seats.
At the heart of the story veteran actress Berry (Mother), delivers a haunting performance as a mother battling an evil that only she can see. In a raw, bare-faced portrayal, Berry’s character is seemingly caught in a fight against sinister forces while caring for her twin sons, played by Percy Daggs( Nolan), Anthony B. Jenkins (Samuel).
The two young actors bring their own incredible talent to the film, portraying the complex dynamics between the two brothers. The twist, however, lies in the uncertainty—whether the evil exists or if it’s all a manifestation of her mind. Berry reflected on how she delivered the performance post lockdown. Talking in the young actors Berry who is also a producer for the film said: “We knew had to find formidable actors for these parts”. Formidable is just one way of describing Percy and Daggs who take roles as brothers with unfiltering performances.
Berry told ALT A REVIEW: “I do remember having the feeling once we started to work on this movie that it was oddly not unlike the two years that we had just spent in quarantine and lockdown and in one location all the time. We didn’t leave our house and my family for almost six months, really. So I did use that sort of sense memory of what that felt like to feel sort of trapped and kind of isolate it from the world and what that would really feel like. There were certain moments that, yeah, I did try to tap into that sense memory”. READ FULL INTERVIEW WITH HALLE BERRY Check back HERE:
Lead actress Halle Berry connected with the character of the protective, yet troubled mother, drawing from her own experiences as a parent. The actor stated “I love playing strong mothers, I felt like I understood mama’s undying love and protection for these children”.
As the terror unfolds, her sons’ reactions diverge: one remains fiercely loyal, believing in his mother’s visions, while the other begins to doubt her, igniting tension within their fragile family dynamic. The film explores the breakdown of trust when one of the boys questions the reality of the evil force, fracturing the emotional ties between them.
Set against a backdrop of global catastrophe, Never Let Go centers on a family’s desperate survival inside their home, their only sanctuary from the malevolent presence outside in a barren Woodland, which appears miles from anywhere. Bound together physically and emotionally, the trio must stay connected—literally tethered by ropes to avoid separation. But when the strength of their bond falters, they find themselves in a terrifying struggle to survive, both from external dangers and the unraveling of their unity.
Never Let Go offers not just scares, but a deep psychological exploration of fear, trust, and the thin line between reality and delusion. Released today September 27, 2024, the film is poised to leave audiences questioning what is real and what is imagined in this gripping horror-thriller. Is there really evil out there or is she just a mother protecting two boys from a world they might just want to harm them a little more than the other boys? Definitely worth seeing on the big screen!!
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