Review: Don’t Let Go

Police detective David Oyelowo has become a kind of second father to his teenage niece Storm Reid, though when she calls him at work one day, he’s too distracted on a case to properly listen to her call. Unfortunately, that night Reid again tries to contact her uncle, but Oyelowo can barely make out what she’s saying. Nonetheless he makes the journey to her house, only to find Reid and her rather troubled parents (Brian Tyree Henry and Shinelle Azoroh) brutally murdered. In the midst of his grief, Oyelowo once again gets a phone call…from his dead niece. How? What? Why?...No, seriously How? Alfred Molina and Mykelti Williamson play respectively, Oyelowo’s concerned boss and partner on the force.

 

Every review of “Don’t Let Go” seems to cite “Frequency”, but as much as I can see the connection with that film, my mind was thinking something else. This slightly predictable yet highly watchable 2019 film from writer-director Jacob Estes (the very average “Mean Creek”, co-writer of the awful “Rings”) for me seemed more of a cross between “Déjà vu” and “The Sixth Sense”. For the most part it’s enjoyable and interesting, even if you’ll narrow the list of credible suspects down to at least two before the big reveal. Well, about 10 minutes before the big reveal. I think Estes hides things relatively well up until that point.

 

David Oyelowo sells the initial tragedy very well and provides a likeable protagonist. Co-star Storm Reid is a tad precocious and irritating for my tastes, and not entirely up to snuff yet as an actress. The set-up is a tad corny, with Oyelowo barely paying attention to his niece leading up to the tragic events, getting distracted at work. However, once this one gets going, the premise is captivating enough to get you past a few niggles. It’ll either grab you like it did me, or you’ll resist it from moment one I suppose. I don’t think there’s going to be much room for middle ground. It’s an interesting blend of mystery and time-travel, albeit not very heavy on the science. Estes seems to want to keep things relatively grounded and geared towards human drama. It’s a shame that Alfred Molina and Mykelti Williamson don’t get much to do here, but again, small issues really. I think the good ultimately outweighs the bad.

 

Some minor issues aside, this is a solid little B-movie with a pretty irresistible premise. Oyelowo is a fine anchor, youngster Storm Reid probably needs to hone her craft a bit longer. She’s a bit much.

 

Rating: B-

 

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