Review: Don’t Let Go

I first caught this film at the Sundance Film Festival, only at that time it was titled “ReLive”. A title that makes sense, but is somewhat flat and unappealing. Taking a consensus at the event, they decided to rename the film.

The film stars David Oyelowo as a LA Detective that’s trying to do right by his family. And while this is easy as he tries to be a positive force in his niece Ashley’s (Storm Reid life) life, it also has bumps and roadblocks when it comes to his less-than-legal brother, played by Brian Tyree Henry.

Murderous chickens come home to roost when his brother’s family is horribly slaughtered. Flooring the detective, he looks for answers and reasons to a reason-less crime. In pain and denial, he hopes to find solace in his memories and his niece’s bedroom. And then a cell phone rings…

On the other line is his niece Ashley, alive and well with no idea of events. Thinking himself mad, the detective searches for the truth and possible dark-humored prankster. All-the-while his niece talks to him of things past, which leads to a revelation. She is calling from the past.

Realizing this, he looks for the opportunity to change her future and his present. Playing with time and unknown killers pulls both of them into a spiral that neither may escape from.

This film is an interesting sci-fi jaunt with highs and lows. A touch of Christopher Nolan’s Memento and a smidgen of the film Frequency flavor this timey-wimey film and its trans-temporal jumps. Strong performances from the cast help to carry this film, which can be a bit sluggish at times. The editing is also a bit slap-dash, but it does deliver a modicum of suspense and thrills. Is it worth going to the theater though? Perhaps not, maybe this film will better be served on your couch.

Grade: C
Running Time: 1h 43m
MPAA Rating: R