"NEVER LET GO" BLU-RAY DVD COMBO REVIEW (LIONSGATE)

Films set deep in the woods after a cataclysmic event are catnip to us here at Macabre Daily. The more isolated, the better. Nothing escalates the tension and dread better than knowing help isn’t on the way; in fact, it may not exist at all. Films like “28 DAYS LATER” or “THE OMEGA MAN” come to mind. Add to this existential dread the threat of an outside influence trying to pierce the thin veil of safety and security our protagonists have created to maintain some sort of semblance to long-forgotten humanity, and you have the ingredients of a perfect watch. To have a director such as Alexandre Aja of “HIGH TENSION,” “CRAWL,” and “HORNS” fame at the helm with the superstar talent of Halle Berry (“X-MEN”) in the lead role, we were eagerly anticipating the scares from the new Blue-ray/DVD Combo pack of “NEVER LET GO” released from Lionsgate on December 3, 2024.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

From visionary director Alexandre Aja (Crawl) and the creative minds behind “Stranger Things” comes this psychological horror-thriller. As evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, a mother (Halle Berry) and her twin sons find their only protection is their house and their deep-rooted family bond. Needing to stay connected at all times — even tethering themselves with ropes — they urge each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.

HOW IS IT?:

We can’t tell you how disappointed we were with all the talent involved in this production to have a result fall so flat. The main issue here is one we see constantly: a weak script that works better as a 45-minute short film but doesn’t have the legs to stretch the run to an hour and a half. “NEVER LET GO” is a fantastic Twilight Zone episode, nothing more. The characters are one-dimensional, confined by the mythology created by an unstable protagonist in Halle Berry. It’s not that the acting is sub-par, far from it. Berry’s two young sons, Nolan (Percy Daggs IV) and Samuel (Anthony B. Jenkins) do an amazing job with the thin material they’re given. Unfortunately, they have little to do other than react to Berry’s unhinged rantings and fits of fury. This repeats itself for most of the movie’s runtime: stare, react, repeat. Berry does an admiral job trying to sell the confusing rules keeping the family safe; you see, none of them can be untethered from their cabin. They must forage and hunt while connected to long, cumbersome ropes. If you find yourself free from these ropes, you’re set upon by the evil in the woods that has taken the form of former loved ones that only Berry can see. The children can’t see the evil and must take her word for it.

Here lies the dramatic tension in the film as Nolan starts having doubts about what’s real and imagined and who the real danger is coming from. There are interesting concepts that are never fully explored. Instead, we’re subjected to drawn-out scenes within the cabin that go on far too long. There are scenes to make your skin crawl, but they’re few and far between, Aja deciding to lean more toward psychological dread than the metaphysical terror outside the cabin. That’s a shame because the few scares we do get are effective. We could have used more of that old Aja magic here. There’s way too much restraint from a movie that would have benefitted from bigger scares and set pieces.

HOW DOES IT LOOK:

This is where the movie shines. It is gorgeous to look at, with fantastic cinematography and lighting that truly immerse you in a woodland nightmare. The home viewing experience is one of the best we’ve had this year. It’s crushing that the subject matter doesn’t match the outstanding technical quality of the film.

HOW DOES IT SOUND:

Not to be outdone by the stunning visuals, the Dolby Atmos sound couldn’t be better. Crisp, clean, and vibrant, it’s almost a character itself. Lionsgate should be incredibly happy with the way this movie looks and sounds. It’s top-notch.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Making Never Let Go: Meet the talented team of filmmakers and learn more about the intricate creative process behind the film’s particular look and atmosphere. 

• Creating Momma’s House: Take a step inside and learn how filmmakers were able to find and prepare Momma’s house in the middle of nowhere to make the film as authentic and scary as possible. 

• Deleted Scenes

• Theatrical Trailer

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