As a horror enthusiast with a soft spot for psychological thrillers, I found myself utterly captivated by Alexandre Aja’s chilling masterpiece, “Never Let Go.” The film, reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s works, weaves a haunting tale that leaves viewers questioning reality and sanity. Halle Berry’s powerhouse performance as the tormented Mama is nothing short of extraordinary, and her insights into her character’s psychological issues add an unsettling depth to the narrative.
Spoilers below for any horror fans who haven’t yet watched Never Let Go, so be warned!
In a manner reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s films, Alexandre Aja’s new horror film “Never Let Go” (2024) delves into the woods and could be distressing for some viewers, leaving others puzzled about what they experienced. This movie follows a mother who desperately tries to protect her two sons from harm, but it remains unclear whether her efforts are causing them further distress or if her fears about an enigmatic Evil are justified or merely delusional.
Halle Berry Shares Candid Insight Into Mama’s Psychological Issues
In the film “Never Let Go,” it’s clear from the start that only Mama seems capable of perceiving the supposed corpses and spirits lurking around, while Nolan and Sam appear oblivious. However, as the story unfolds, things take a turn when Nolan becomes increasingly distressed in the dark after Mama apparently dies by her own hand. The situation grows more complex when it seems that Sam may be influenced by an evil force during their flight to civilization. This leads us to suspect that one or both of them might have been possessed, but is this true?
At a Q&A session during the premiere of the horror film at Fantastic Fest, Halle Berry didn’t explicitly confirm or deny the possibility of supernatural dangers in the movie. Instead, she offered insights into the character’s psychological state throughout the film, drawing connections to the profound, albeit unspoken, experiences from her past. She began by stating:
This mother was an extraordinary woman, carrying burdens from her past that included personal traumas and mental health struggles. To put it another way, it seemed as though the weight of her own psychological issues had been passed on to her, almost like a parent pours into their child and then overflows into them. Given her background with her family, it appeared that she had already absorbed a great deal from both her mother and father’s dysfunctional upbringing.
It appears as though Berry and Alexandre Aja shared a common vision when portraying Mama’s experiences, both during her upbringing by her parents and later in her marriage. The film suggests that Mama may have been responsible for the deaths of three individuals, yet it remains unclear what specific motivations drove her to do so, other than any internal psychological turmoil she might have had. Mama’s somber reflections about her husband seem to imply that she didn’t actively wish for his demise.
Despite not delving into her character’s past before becoming ‘Mama’, Berry emphasizes that it’s clear to everyone whether Mama is mentally unstable or not, given the obvious effects of her challenging living conditions on her mental state. The Academy Award winner further added…
Consider a scenario where a mother raises two children, confined within their home for a decade, and then feels an ominous presence outside, whether this menace was a product of her schizophrenia or it truly existed. If we choose to immerse ourselves in our cinematic universe, the boys in the story claim that their mother murdered her own mother, father, and husband, suggesting that this malevolence she created could have trapped her within the house. Regardless of your interpretation after watching the movie, raising two children alone in a secluded woodland home for such an extended period would undoubtedly drive one mad – it’s a ‘crazy-making’ situation, to say the least. It seems irrelevant to question why she is crazy; rather, we should focus on her struggle to maintain sanity and her love for her sons.
Berry suggests that the events in the movie might indicate that the ‘Evil’ is more likely a symptom stemming from Mama’s traumatized mind, possibly resembling schizophrenia, rather than an actual supernatural entity. However, she doesn’t completely rule out the possibility of a genuine dark force being responsible for the family’s troubled past, depending on the perspective chosen by horror enthusiasts. This new viewpoint has made me reconsider my previous assumptions.
Halle Berry’s Explanation Gives The Movie A More Horrifying And Depressing Edge
In most cases, I find myself quite content to set aside skepticism when enjoying genre films, and I must confess that I appreciate it when a production like this leaves room for viewers’ individual interpretations. However, the plot of Never Let Go requires a significant acceptance of the existence of Evil in order to explain why Mama could raise two children without any resources such as grocery stores, medical care, formal education, entertainment, and so on.
If we merely assume that mental illness was the sole cause behind Mama’s heightened anxieties, her stern methods of discipline, the carved wooden figures and rituals, and her reluctance to interact with other beings…then it transforms this story into one of the most tragic horror narratives ever created. Halle Berry’s critically acclaimed portrayal, along with her equally impressive co-stars Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins, powerfully convey the gravity of their predicament. It’s difficult to fathom that all this struggle could have led to nothing.
In contemplating the tree bark meal scenario, where the two boys grappled individually with their grim circumstances, including the heart-wrenching argument about putting down the dog which pushed them over the brink, I am convinced this dialogue was born out of necessity rather than an unwholesome situation.
From my perspective as an ardent fan, the last scene of the movie, focusing on Sam’s Polaroid selfie, appears to serve as undeniable evidence that the terror which haunted Mama for so long was indeed real. If I may express my personal opinion without offending others, I will be more than happy to admit that I find myself comfortably convinced that the Evil is a tangible reality in the most literal sense.
At this moment, “Never Let Go” is showing in cinemas nationwide, and during its opening weekend, it ranked fourth at the box office with a total earnings of $4.5 million across over 2,600 screens. Here’s to hoping it continues to rake in profits to maintain a strong presence for mid-sized horror films, even if its success is found in more rural and secluded locations, distant from suburban and urban areas.
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2024-09-25 00:07