Halle Berry stars in 'Never Let Go,' a survival horror that keeps audiences guessing

Director Alexandre Aja reveals how 'Never Let Go' maintains suspense without giving too much away in its marketing.

Halle Berry stars in Never Let Go, a tense survival horror film directed by Alexandre Aja, which follows a mother of two living deep in the woods with her children, haunted by a malevolent spirit. The film, set to release on September 20, 2024, successfully keeps its plot under wraps, something Aja said was intentional. "We managed to keep our cards close to our chest and not reveal too much of what we have," he said in an interview over Zoom.

Aja wanted to create a layered, fairy-tale-like world with a grounded storyline. He described the film as blending supernatural and realistic elements, comparing it to gothic literature like Edgar Allan Poe. “There's a supernatural explanation and a grounded explanation,” Aja noted, adding that he aimed to maintain this duality throughout the film.

The film's editing plays a crucial role in sustaining tension, particularly when test audiences reacted strongly to the fate of the family dog. "The dog is always this kind of symbol of innocence," Aja explained, adding that the audience’s anxiety peaked when the dog's life was threatened.

Both Berry and Aja are parents, and they credit their experiences with shaping the film's emotional depth. Aja admitted, "I don't think I would have made the same movie if I was not a parent."a