Director Alexandre Aja addresses whether the evil inNever Let Gois real with surprising certainty. Directed by Aja (The Hills Have Eyes,Crawl), the new horror film follows a family, made up of a mother and her twin sons, who have been haunted by a malevolent spirit for years, but when one of the boys begins doubting its existence, their sacred bond is shattered, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.Halle Berry stars in the lead roleas Momma alongside Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins as her twin sons, Nolan and Samuel.
Now, with the horror film playing in theaters since September 20, director Alexandre Aja addressed whether the evil inNever Let Gois real with surprising certainty. During an interview withGizmodo,the director said he doesn’t think the evil is objectively real, but rather depends on the characters' belief in it, equating it to an internal darkness they must confront. When questioned about the hand in the photo, he emphasizes that the movie’s interpretation, likeThe Shining, is subjective, allowing audiences to decide whether the evil is real or symbolic based on personal belief. Read his full explanation below:
My answer is it’s as real as much as you want to believe in. It’s the belief that makes it real. Is it real in an objective way? And this is a big spoiler but personally, I don’t think so. Because in that case, why would a rope protect you from it? It’s really about faith. It’s really about what you believe. Personally, I think it’s really like the darkness that’s inside them. And the whole movie is about how this young man, Nolan, is going to start questioning [everything]. He’s going to start doing the work. And by the end of the movie, he’s going to embrace the darkness of his mom, accept it, to be able to cut the rope and get free. While his brother will not be able to do that.
It’s a movie. It’s a fairy tale. Like at the end ofThe Shining, is that picture of the Overlook Hotel with Jack Torrance among the guests, is it real? Or is it a way for Kubrick to say it was in hell from the beginning? I think that’s [up for] interpretation. Of course, it also works if you say, “Okay, it’s real.” It’s about what you believe.
Is The Evil In Never Let Go Real?
Does Director Alexandre Aja’s Answer Offer Any More Clarity?
Throughout most ofNever Let Go,director Alexandre Aja leaves it ambiguous whether the evil entity is realor a manifestation of Momma’s paranoia and mental illness. Only she can see the shapeshifting entity, which often appears as distorted versions of people from her past. Momma believes the evil wants to possess her family to make them kill each other, but her son Nolan’s skepticism challenges her belief. Even when Sam seems to encounter the entity, it remains unclear if the experience is real or a hallucination.
Never Let Go Review: Halle Berry Leads Anxiety-Inducing Horror That Makes For A Better Family Drama
It may not work on every level, but there’s intrigue & compelling character dynamics to carry it through to an ending that’ll start conversations.
Never Let Go’s endingdeepens the ambiguity as Nolan confronts the snake-like monster, but his weakened, starved state and smoke inhalation suggest he might be hallucinating.Director Alexandre Aja once again casts doubtwith the final scene of the burning house, in which a photo shows the entity’s hand on Sam’s shoulder. The ending leaves the film’s biggest question unanswered, with the director intentionally giving audiences the freedom to interpret whether the evil is real or simply a projection of the characters' fears.
Our Take On The Evil In Never Let Go
It’s Intentionally Ambiguous
Director Alexandre Aja intentionally craftedNever Let Goto be ambiguous, leaving it up to the audience to decide whether the evil is real or imagined. As he says,audiences must decide to believe which events are objectively real, and which might be hallucinations or symptoms of mental and physical illness. While the lack of clear resolution may feel unsatisfying, the ambiguity is a deliberate choice by the director considering the overall uncertainty and open-ended nature ofNever Let Go.
Never Let Go
Cast
A mother and her twin sons are trapped in their house by a malevolent force, relying on their familial bond and physical connection for safety. When one son questions the reality of the evil, their unity unravels, leading to a terrifying battle for survival in this psychological thriller/horror.
