Never Let Go Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		2.5

Never Let Go Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 3, 2024

A frequently used metaphor states that overly protective parents need to "cut the umbilical cord", but what if a concerned parent actually has tethered her children together with rope to keep them safe? Never Let Go depends on that very curious representational conceit to give audiences an instant "hook" into proceedings that are at least horror adjacent, even if the film attempts to introduce any number of "meta" aspects to the narrative, not the least of which is a deconstruction of intergenerational trauma and so-called helicopter mothering. As is discussed in the "making of" featurette included on this disc as a supplement, the whole "horror" aspect is intentionally dealt with ambiguously, until of course it isn't, which may be one of the main problems when attempting to assess Never Let Go as a whole. The film has an undeniably spooky mood and it offers Halle Berry a rather distinctive showcase as Momma, along with two nicely authentic performances from newcomers Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins as her fraternal twin sons, Nolan and Samuel.

Momma and her sons are holed up in a, well, Cabin in the Woods, and it soon becomes apparent that at least according to Momma the trio is surviving (if only barely) in some kind of post- Apocalyptic wasteland, and one that is further made terrifying by what Momma terms "The Evil", some kind of malevolent force that is out there in the forest just waiting to reach out and "touch" someone, thereby possessing them. To keep her and her charges safe, Momma insists they wear ropes tethered to the house when they venture outside, since according to Momma's quasi-religion, their domicile, as dilapidated as it may be, is indeed a safe refuge.

Suffice it to say that some simmering sibling rivalry ultimately leads one of the boys to doubt everything Momma has been telling them, and even the film itself offers a kind of teasing ambience where the audience isn't quite sure if Momma's accounts (not to mention her interstitially horrifying visions) are "real" or simply the effects of an addled mind. Calamity in any number of ways ensues, with the boys rejiggering their awareness of both the surrounding environment and their own "takes" on what Momma has been telling them.

Never Let Go is strong on style and mood, but its narrative is never really fully developed enough to completely connect. There's simply not information imparted about whatever Momma went through with her parents to make her like she is, and there are other "minor" (?) plot points left hanging like the consequences for one "red shirt" death late in the film. In that regard and perhaps with an ultimate hope of providing at least a few answers, despite some pretty withering reviews and less than fulsome box office, there's already some talk of developing this project into some kind of franchise.

Never Let Go Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Never Let Go is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.12:1. The making of featurette has some brief glimpses of Alexa cameras, which the IMDb specifies as the Arri Alexa 65 and Alexa Mini LF, and while as of the writing of this review the IMDb doesn't yet specify the resolution of the DI, I'm assuming 4K (if anyone has authoritative information to the contrary, Private Message me and I'll happily update things here). As the making of featurette briefly gets into, cinematographer Maxime Alexandre chose not to utilize a bunch of different lenses, and instead tried to differentiate perspective and point of view by simply making changes to framing. One way or the other, the surplus of close-up and midrange framings throughout the film support some excellent fine detail levels in both interior and exterior locales, even in sometimes less than fulsome lighting conditions, as in several scenes within the ramshackle cabin. There's a moody emphasis on darker green and brown tones throughout the presentation, especially in some of the outdoor material. CGI is maybe just slightly on the cartoonish side, but is disturbing nonetheless.

Never Let Go Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Never Let Go features a nicely expressive Dolby Atmos track. From the film's opening moments, there's a really nice and appealingly subtle use of the all of the surround channels to offer some swirling ambient environmental sounds out in the forest. Everything from slightly menacing breezes rippling through leaves to more aggressive startle effects dot the side and rear channels, and the Atmos speakers regularly provide even more of the encompassing sounds outside the cabin. The interior scenes are perhaps understandably more "confined", but there is still noticeable surround activity, and there are even some sudden bursts of low frequency energy as when Momma slams the door shut on a floorboard hiding spot. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.

Never Let Go Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making Never Let Go (HD; 11:43) is a decent EPK with behind the scenes footage and interviews.


• Creating Momma's House (HD; 6:36) addresses location shooting and production design elements.


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 7:06)


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:24)

DVD and digital copies are included, and packaging features a slipcover.

Never Let Go Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If Never Let Go manages to in fact spark a franchise, I'd argue for the creative staff to maybe take an object lesson (in the negative sense) from how X then went on to Pearl and MaXXXine, with the two follow ups arguably never getting around to answering some salient questions about what went on in the first film. Also somewhat like Ti West's so-called X Trilogy, Never Let Go may be primarily a showcase for its lead actress more than anything else. Technical merits are first rate for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.