Never Let Go (2024)
October 28, 2024 7:25 PM - Subscribe
[TRAILER] A woman (Halle Berry) raises her two sons in an isolated house in the woods, telling them every day that the world has been ended by an evil force, but that they remain safe as long as they are tethered to the house by ropes.
Also starring Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins, Will Catlett.
Directed by Alexandre Aja. Written by KC Coughlin, Ryan Grassby. Produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, Alexandre Aja for 21 Laps Entertainment,
HalleHolly. Cinematography by Maxime Alexandre. Edited by Elliot Greenberg. Music by ROB.
56% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
JustWatch listing.
Also starring Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins, Will Catlett.
Directed by Alexandre Aja. Written by KC Coughlin, Ryan Grassby. Produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, Alexandre Aja for 21 Laps Entertainment,
HalleHolly. Cinematography by Maxime Alexandre. Edited by Elliot Greenberg. Music by ROB.
56% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
JustWatch listing.
The first third, which sets up the mythology/premise is solid. The next third, where the kids begin to doubt her is kinda bad. The final third is absolute dogshit.
We've all seen the "Is the parent warning of the bad things crazy or has the world really ended?" trope before but whichever half of that a movie lands on, it could not be as fucking annoying as this film's "Why not both?"
Just ugh. Frustrating and annoying.
This is stupid bullshit and I don't know that I'd recommend it to anyone. It betrays its own premise so hard, it's hard to imagine anyone would like it.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:28 PM on October 28 [2 favorites]
We've all seen the "Is the parent warning of the bad things crazy or has the world really ended?" trope before but whichever half of that a movie lands on, it could not be as fucking annoying as this film's "Why not both?"
Just ugh. Frustrating and annoying.
This is stupid bullshit and I don't know that I'd recommend it to anyone. It betrays its own premise so hard, it's hard to imagine anyone would like it.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:28 PM on October 28 [2 favorites]
Looks to the left... Looks to the right...
I don't think he liked it.
posted by Naberius at 5:10 AM on October 29 [4 favorites]
I don't think he liked it.
posted by Naberius at 5:10 AM on October 29 [4 favorites]
Alexandre Aja fucking up the last act? The hell you say!!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 6:08 AM on October 29 [2 favorites]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 6:08 AM on October 29 [2 favorites]
I just read the plot on Wikipedia and...the story sounds like a damn mess. Does it make any sense while you're watching it?
posted by wenestvedt at 6:32 AM on October 29 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:32 AM on October 29 [2 favorites]
It never really makes sense, although the first third holds out the lure that it's a mystery and maybe eventually it will.
The failures of the plot are the main thing and were not something that could be overcome.
However, if they had any shot at pulling this silliness off, it was rested on the acting skills of the two boys.
Once the Halle Berry character dies and you're left with just the two boys on screen, they would have to be very special child actors to carry the load on their own. I am sure they are nice boys with fine careers ahead of them, but they are not, at this point, each capable of carrying half of a wobbly movie on their own.
I do not usually full-on trash things. If anything, I am an apologist for trash with a few finer points, who gives a lot of 2/2.5 star "It was fine" reviews."
I think I have an established pattern in my reviews of going into movies with optimism, looking for reasons--however slight or modest--to be entertained. I am willing to try to meet a filmmaking team on their level, accept their goals as the goals of the film, and to find small joys where I can.
When I tell you my whole family was booing and throwing popcorn at the screen, it's not something I say every day.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:07 AM on October 29 [12 favorites]
The failures of the plot are the main thing and were not something that could be overcome.
However, if they had any shot at pulling this silliness off, it was rested on the acting skills of the two boys.
Once the Halle Berry character dies and you're left with just the two boys on screen, they would have to be very special child actors to carry the load on their own. I am sure they are nice boys with fine careers ahead of them, but they are not, at this point, each capable of carrying half of a wobbly movie on their own.
I do not usually full-on trash things. If anything, I am an apologist for trash with a few finer points, who gives a lot of 2/2.5 star "It was fine" reviews."
I think I have an established pattern in my reviews of going into movies with optimism, looking for reasons--however slight or modest--to be entertained. I am willing to try to meet a filmmaking team on their level, accept their goals as the goals of the film, and to find small joys where I can.
When I tell you my whole family was booing and throwing popcorn at the screen, it's not something I say every day.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:07 AM on October 29 [12 favorites]
Why not both?
Maybe the real darkness was the friends we made along the way
I do love the PNW as a horror setting, though. I'm going to add this to my PNW horror list (which currently only has two other entries, The Ring (2001) and Nic Cage's Wicker Man.)
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 2:21 PM on November 1 [2 favorites]
Maybe the real darkness was the friends we made along the way
I do love the PNW as a horror setting, though. I'm going to add this to my PNW horror list (which currently only has two other entries, The Ring (2001) and Nic Cage's Wicker Man.)
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 2:21 PM on November 1 [2 favorites]
I would watch Green Room, Significant Other, and Mandy for that theme.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:47 PM on November 1 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:47 PM on November 1 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:26 PM on October 28