As a film enthusiast with a background in psychology, I must say that “Never Let Go” left me utterly bewildered yet intrigued. The movie’s ambiguous ending and its exploration of mental health issues resonated deeply with me, given my own experiences dealing with mental illness.
Alexandre Aja is one of those directors whose name may not be immediately recognizable to all audiences, but whose films certainly are. Anyone with a passing interest in horror will have at least heard of his movies and have probably seen at least one. With titles like The Hills Have Eyes (2006), Piranha 3D, Crawl and Horns, his work is extensive and recognizable. His latest title, Never Let Go, might be his most ambitious and compelling film yet. Starring Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, and Anthony B. Jenkins, this ambiguous and mind-bending thriller has audiences flocking to the theaters and picking it apart in order to try and figure out the truth behind the complex story.
What Is Never Let Go About?
In a world believed to be corrupted by malevolence, as expressed by Halle Berry’s character, June, her sons have been raised under the impression that they, along with their mother, are the sole survivors. They were led to believe that everyone else perished due to this unexplained evil that devastated the world. The outside world is perceived as treacherous and terrifying, making their home the only sanctuary in existence. Whenever they need to venture out to find food or supplies, they secure themselves with ropes, hoping this attachment will provide them some protection.
As the film unfolds, it becomes unclear whether what we’ve been led to believe, both as spectators and June’s sons, can be fully relied upon. Is it safe to trust June’s perspective of reality, or are there hidden factors at play? Could she be shielding herself and her boys from a genuine threat, or is there an underlying issue with her?
As Nolan, I couldn’t fathom the idea of losing our cherished pet, so when my mother suggested we needed to put him down for survival, it shook my faith in her deeply. Being just a child, I was deeply attached to our pet and couldn’t bear the thought of parting with him. Instead, I took matters into my own hands, locking my mom in the greenhouse and severing her safety line. I hoped this act would show her that her fears were unfounded, and that the world outside wasn’t as dangerous as she believed it to be.
Instead of perceiving what her son is trying to demonstrate, June becomes even more certain of the looming malice. Inside the greenhouse, a decaying vision of her mother materializes, menacingly urging June to murder her sons. Just as Nolan resisted killing someone he cherished, June also resists killing her sons – instead, she chooses self-sacrifice and slits her own throat to protect them.
What Happens to Sam and Nolan?
Following June’s passing, her sons, Sam (the elder) and another unnamed brother, experience tension. Sam harbors resentment towards Nolan for his presumed role in their mother’s demise and refuses to grant him forgiveness. As they grapple with the lingering sorrow and emotional turmoil stemming from June’s actions, an unusual incident unfolds: a hiker unexpectedly appears at their residence. Contrary to what June had told them, it seems there may be others still alive in the world.
Sam, believing this to be a deceit orchestrated by the wicked character June mentioned earlier, takes the man’s life. However, soon afterward, another individual appears – the missing hiker’s daughter, searching for her father. Upon discovering June’s lifeless body, she panics and runs off into the night. Sam, in pursuit, leaves his rope behind.
In the forest, while pursuing the hiker’s daughter, Sam encounters something sinister. Consequently, he makes a decision to imprison his brother in their home and set it ablaze. From that moment, the film becomes increasingly puzzling as the boundaries between reality and illusion become increasingly unclear. Nolan begins to experience vivid hallucinations, among which are images of his mother transforming into a serpent.
Are June’s Visions Real, or Delusions?
As the movie draws to a close, it becomes evident that no straightforward resolution is on the horizon, and viewers are left with many unanswered questions. The enigmatic ending, as well as the film itself, leaves audiences puzzling over the fate of June and her sons. Could any of June’s visions have been genuine? Was there truly a cataclysmic evil that ravaged the world, or was it merely a figment of June and Sam’s imaginations?
In the movie, even though June claims she sees certain things and experiences visions herself, Sam and Nolan appear unable to perceive what she does throughout. It’s only toward the end when they begin to have their own visions. For much of the story, we as viewers must trust June’s word that these visions depict an actual evil force. However, it remains unclear whether what June sees is an authentic manifestation of a great evil or simply her personal delusions. Given that her visions seem to tap into her deepest regrets, insecurities, and fears, there is room for debate that these could be mere figments of her imagination.
As the story unfolds in the film, it becomes apparent that June grew up in a rigid, faith-based family environment where her mother was physically abusive, evident from the marks on her back. This background might have shaped any psychological hallucinations experienced by June, leading them to manifest as some powerful, otherworldly evil, potentially due to her intense religious upbringing. The movie leaves room for interpretation, but it strongly suggests that viewers contemplate whether June’s experiences could be rooted in her past traumas and upbringing.
What’s Fact, and What’s Fiction in the End?
In the movie, it’s left unclear whether there exists a genuine supernatural evil in the world. By the final scenes, both Nolan and Sam begin experiencing personal visions, which could suggest the existence of this evil. If viewers interpret June’s visions as truth and believe that Sam was indeed influenced by an actual malevolent entity, then it implies that the evil depicted is real.
If we consider that June’s visions might be the result of traumatic experiences and mental health issues, it’s equally plausible to suggest that Sam’s experiences with the ‘evil’ could stem from his own delusions. These delusions may have been triggered by his upbringing, which instilled in him a deep fear of the world as dangerous, the belief in an overarching evil, and finally, the traumatic event of his mother’s violent suicide.
What I find intriguing is the undeniable authenticity of the hiker and his daughter. If the supplies Nolan pilfered from their pack are genuine, then it suggests they were indeed genuine people. This could lead us to question everything June has said – that there’s no evil, the world hasn’t perished, and others still exist. Alternatively, it might mean that while the evil is real, she was simply unaware of other survivors. Regardless, June’s assertions to her sons – whether they were truth or mere speculation – remains a matter of perspective.
The film Never Let Go wasn’t intended to provide clear-cut solutions. Instead, its creator Aja aimed to produce something thought-provoking, open for interpretation, debate, and analysis. He achieved this beautifully by crafting a mysteriously vague work that has sparked conversation and is unlikely to be soon forgotten.
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2024-10-03 01:31