Review: Never Let Go (2024)
Never Let Go (2024) is a psychological horror film that doubles as a puzzle, challenging viewers to decide if they’re foolish or clever. If you miss the point, the screenwriters and critics might call you out; if you crack it, you earn praise. This film leans heavily on ambiguity over explanation, so approach it with caution if you prefer clear answers.
Storyline
Momma and her two sons, Nolan and Samuel, live in a forest, hiding from demons that corrupt through touch. Their sanctuary is a house, inherited from Momma’s grandparents, blessed to ward off evil. The first half of the film is gripping, with a compelling setup and mounting questions that seem poised for resolution. But midway, the story takes a sharp turn when Nolan kills Momma, unraveling into a tangle of unanswered questions. Was this the screenwriter and director’s intent?
A clear resolution would’ve spared viewers the mental gymnastics, but the writers play a double game. Is Nolan the demon? Samuel? Both? The entire town? Or is it Momma’s mental illness? Perhaps the town is possessed, or maybe nothing is real. It’s a brain teaser where evil isn’t tangible but abstract. The snake in the opening scene, almost certainly inspired by the Bible’s serpent tempting Eve with the forbidden fruit, suggests this. Comments I’ve read point to Nolan’s jealousy of Samuel mirroring Cain and Abel, which feels plausible. In the forest, Nolan hears Samuel say, “Mom loves me more,” though Samuel never speaks. This hints at a real, pervasive evil, but its origin remains unclear. Only the blessed house, fortified by prayer, can repel it. The film’s allegory frames evil as an external force, akin to Eve’s temptation, luring humans to succumb to envy, greed, selfishness, or murder. Only prayer—or death—can banish the demon. At the climax, Samuel chases a girl, is touched by a demon, and returns to kill Nolan. Momma reappears as a demon, signaling an apocalyptic truth. Yet, the final scene shows the boys on a plane, leaving behind a photo, with the town intact, suggesting the evil’s reality, though it’s murky. Reflecting on it, this interpretation holds water.
Why did Momma return to this house? Likely, she saw humanity’s sins as an apocalyptic sign and sought refuge in her grandparents’ sacred home. What’s unclear is how she knew they built it. Were the elderly couple in the opening her grandparents? When Momma overhears Nolan insisting to Samuel that no demons exist, only her paranoia, she senses her doomed fate. She photographs the future, predicting disaster. In the end, Samuel’s selfie with the burned house reveals a demonic hand, proving Momma’s foresight.
One baffling detail: Momma’s childhood photo shows a white girl, but she’s Black as an adult. Is this a nod to a shift from white dominance to Black empowerment, reflecting real-world events? More likely, it suggests young Momma whitened her skin to avoid prejudice. The latter feels truer.
Nolan’s skepticism is infuriating. He insists Momma is delusional, especially when food runs out. To prove no demons exist, he cuts her rope as she aims at a dog, stopping Samuel from saving her. When Momma takes her own life, Nolan panics, ties himself with a belt, and later prays with Samuel, claiming he didn’t mean to kill her. His flip-flopping—denying demons, then fearing them after her death—is maddening. Is Nolan the demon from the start, or does he become one? The screenplay seems to warn that human nature, with its demonic traits, is scarier than any monster.
Limited Drama and Action
The survival aspect of Never Let Go (2024) feels underdeveloped, despite its survival horror label. The focus on narrative overshadows this element, as if the director forgot the genre’s trifecta. There’s no rising or falling tension, just a flat pace. The only notable moments are Momma saving the boys when Nolan steps on Samuel’s rope, Nolan killing Momma, and Samuel chasing the girl before being touched by the demon. These are the extent of the film’s high-stakes action or drama.
Above-Average Acting
The cast delivers slightly above-average performances. Their tension and actions hit the mark, with Momma’s expressions standing out as she forages for food and erupts in anger. Beyond that, nothing remarkable lingers.
Mediocre Horror
Frankly, Never Let Go (2024) leaves a sour impression. It features three or four jump scares, all crammed into the opening, as if the director aimed for a bold start. But these cheap shocks backfire, feeling tacky rather than impactful. After this initial flurry, the horror vanishes. The only eerie visuals are an old woman sticking out her tongue (seen only by Momma) and a skeletal girl screaming. Beyond these, there’s no horror to speak of. Can this even be called a horror film? Hardly. Labeling it as such with just two creepy scenes is a stretch. I could edit a few accident clips, toss them on the big screen, and call it horror by that logic. This lack of scares is a major letdown, and I’m docking points for it.
Makeup
Aside from the ambiguous narrative, the makeup is the standout. The gore is meticulously crafted, from the arrow piercing a stomach to Momma’s demonic transformation and her self-inflicted wound, all achieved without CGI. This practical artistry is the film’s high point.
