The Never Let Go director addresses many big questions about the horror movie's ending. The film follows a mother and her twins who confine themselves in a cabin to protect themselves against an entity called the Evil, with the rope as their only means to keep them safe. However, as the story progresses, there is growing skepticism about whether the Evil even exists or if Momma (Halle Berry) is making it all up. Even with the tragic Never Let Go ending, there are some unanswered questions, such as what the figure is in the Polaroid.
With the movie now out in theaters, director Alexandra Aja answered several big questions about the ending. In an interview with Gizmodo, the filmmaker explained the final scene, when Sam says the final line in the movie. He elaborated that Sam indeed says the line "he loves me," indicating that he still has the darkness that also affected his mother, which will remain "for the rest of his life." Read the full quote.
I mean, that question is one of my favorite ones because, in fact, when that first line is said, you don’t know if he said it. And even if you look at how Samuel defended himself and said, “No, I didn’t say that,” it doesn’t feel like a genuine, in way. Did he say it? Did the Evil say it? [That] is what’s running through Nolan’s mind. Is there jealousy between the two brothers? But at the end, when it comes, it’s clear that he’s saying it. So it’s clear that Samuel went full tilt on the other side. And now, no matter what, he will still be on the rope for the rest of his life. He will still be infected by his family trauma or the darkness that his mom had inside her as well.
In another interview about the ending with Entertainment Weekly, the director addressed the Polaroid, which seemingly shows the Evil touching Sam's shoulder. Aja stated the hand further affirms that the darkness is still inside Sam, which means that he will not get rid of the trauma, unlike his brother Nolan. Read the quote below:
For me, the movie is a fairytale. It is a story told through images, and every image has an involvement. But for me, the presence of that evil hand on his shoulder is just to say he is f---ed up. He will never get rid of that trauma, like his brother, by embracing the darkness of his mom. In the end, one is going to be safe. The other one will never manage to get free and will always be on that rope.
Finally, in terms of the twins' future following the rescue, the filmmaker gave his input on what the aftermath is, speaking more extensively about Nolan. He stated that he truly believes Nolan has set himself free from that darkness by cutting the rope and leaving his life behind in the cabin. Aja also shared that he would not have envisioned any other conclusion than what was set in the movie's climax. Read the full comment below:
I think Nolan is free. When he says, “We are free,” I think he is. I think he did the work. He managed to embrace the darkness of his family and everything that happened, and he's really cutting the rope and leaving everything behind. I feel he's going to hopefully try to save his brother from his own demons later on, but he's actually free. There were a lot of conversations about this ending, about should we have another ending? It was at some point a real fight for me as a filmmaker to maintain this version of the movie. And I have to say that without Halle, I will have maybe not succeeded because both of us shared that vision from the beginning. I couldn't imagine another ending where Nolan was not free and Samuel was not still under the influence.
However, the filmmaker himself doesn't give a straight answer to the moments in the ending and whether the Evil is real, sharing that there are multiple interpretations due to the movie's "many layers. One of them believes everything she's saying, and the other one is questioning and doubting.”
What The Director's Explanation For Never Let Go Ending Means
The Cycle Will Continue With The Darkness
Throughout Never Let Go, some hints indicate that Evil seemed to be imagined by Berry's Momma. These clues include the twins not seeing the sinister creature earlier, and Momma's own hallucinations with her deceased mother and husband. However, it also seemed to imply that the darkness Momma imagined could stipulate that she had some mental health condition. She seemingly admits to this just before her death, saying that she was the one who brought Evil. Unfortunately, the movie never goes deep into Momma's backstory, although there are strong references to religion and her life before residing in the cabin.
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Still, whether the Evil is real is up to interpretation, with even the director acknowledging there is no clear answer. This is the case when the Polaroid shows the hand on Sam's shoulder. Nevertheless, Nolan wasn't consumed by the darkness since he challenged his mother's beliefs. However, the same can't be said of Sam, considering he is more obedient and believes his mother about Evil. Therefore, Sam was prone to consuming the same fears his mother endured, as shown in the movie's final act. While this will raise the debate about Evil's existence, it doesn't change the fact that the twins were traumatized by the events.
Our Take On Never Let Go's Ending Explainer
Just like the director said, I have my own interpretation of what happened in Never Let Go. I believe that the movie touches on philosophy vs. psychology, where Nolan questions the reality while Momma is actually dealing with mental health conditions. The fact that Sam essentially inherited this darkness furthers my take that this could be something that was passed genetically, especially once his mother's death traumatized him. However, even I still can't explain the Polaroid and how that plays into my theory.
The key reason for the ambiguous ending derives from Momma's own past. While she mentioned details about her old life in the city, the tattoos, religion, and her relationship with her parents, even her past is not all clear-cut. Unless there are plans to continue this story to provide some clarification, the Never Let Go ending may not truly have a definitive answer and prompt multiple theories from audiences.
Source: Gizmodo, Entertainment Weekly
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Never Let Go
Horror
Thriller
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.
- Director
- Alexandre Aja
- Release Date
- September 27, 2024
- Studio(s)
- 21 Laps Entertainment
- Distributor(s)
- Lionsgate Films
- Writers
- Kevin Coughlin , Ryan Grassby
- Cast
- Halle Berry , Percy Daggs IV , Anthony B. Jenkins
- Main Genre
- Horror
