Don’t Let Go

Anchored by David Oyelowo’s superb, commanding performance, Don’t Let Go, which follows police officer Jack Radcliff as he races against time to save his imperiled niece (Storm Reid’s Ashley), ultimately manages to establish itself as a slightly erratic yet mostly rewarding little sci-fi thriller. It’s clear immediately that filmmaker Jacob Estes, though shooting on an obvious shoestring, does an excellent job of establishing a compelling, stylish atmosphere, and there’s little doubt, as well, that the writer/director manages to establish a roster of well-drawn, thoroughly sympathetic protagonists. (It doesn’t hurt, certainly, that Estes has assembled a stellar lineup of supporting performers, including Mykelti Williamson, Alfred Molina, and Brian Tyree Henry.) The creeping inclusion of science-fiction-tinged elements undoubtedly enhances the movie’s increasingly engrossing vibe, with the decidedly tense midsection benefiting substantially from an ongoing inclusion of overtly captivating sequences (eg the inevitable yet deliciously drawn-out reveal of the bad guy). And although the whole thing ends on a somewhat anticlimactic note, particularly as the picture morphs into a relatively generic cop thriller, Don’t Let Go has nevertheless cemented its place as an inventive, entertaining low-budget endeavor.

*** out of ****

Leave a comment