I had been invited to the London premiere of Never Let Go, a film that had been making some noises on the Indy scene for a couple of years. Sadly I was out of the country so had to miss the screening but caught up on it with a DVD purchase. Indy films of this nature are often a risk, but this one really delivered and much credit must go to the Writer / Director Howard J. Ford and his leading lady Angela Dixon. Dixon plays Lisa Brennan and ex intelligence / Security operative, whom, following an affair with an American Senator who looks to have a good run to the Whitehouse, has just had a baby with. Depressed and needing a break she travels to Morrocco with her young child and finds herself falling foul of traffickers whom steal her baby. From there its a race against time to get her back before she disappears for ever.
Never Let Go is an extremely well made the film. The lingering organic nature of the photography always implies that a darkness lurks beyond the facade of every door and alleyway, while the cast all fulfil their roles with great enthusiasm. The film really anchors on the performance of the leading lady and relative unknown Angela Dixon who does an excellent job here. Playing her role with conviction and making her character credible which would have faltered in the hands of a weaker actress. It's not often you see a film like this with a strong female protagonist in her 40s and that is entirely in the films favour. There is nice support from Heather Pace, (You may recall her from London's Burning) playing a work colleague trying to assist her friend from afar back home and the local sympathetic lone female police officer, (Played by Sanita Simms) does well to stand out and make an emotive presence despite having very little dialogue, proving once again that a part is never about the number of lines you have. The film is not perfect and at times plausibility is pushed to the limits (Though not as far as in Taken 2, so this can be easily forgiven) and some of the fight choreography felt adequate rather than accomplished and clumsy in places, while the villains were a little one dimensional and at times I found myself wanting to know more about them but this is not a film about the bad guys it's about a mother's desperation to rescue her child at any cost. Despite these minor niggles I was thoroughly engaged through out and the film moves along at a cracking pace. To have shot the film for a budget of around 150K is nothing short of incredible and an impressive achievement. Watch it with an open mind and I think you will not be disappointed. I am certain we will see more of Angela Dixon after this movie.
Never Let Go is an extremely well made the film. The lingering organic nature of the photography always implies that a darkness lurks beyond the facade of every door and alleyway, while the cast all fulfil their roles with great enthusiasm. The film really anchors on the performance of the leading lady and relative unknown Angela Dixon who does an excellent job here. Playing her role with conviction and making her character credible which would have faltered in the hands of a weaker actress. It's not often you see a film like this with a strong female protagonist in her 40s and that is entirely in the films favour. There is nice support from Heather Pace, (You may recall her from London's Burning) playing a work colleague trying to assist her friend from afar back home and the local sympathetic lone female police officer, (Played by Sanita Simms) does well to stand out and make an emotive presence despite having very little dialogue, proving once again that a part is never about the number of lines you have. The film is not perfect and at times plausibility is pushed to the limits (Though not as far as in Taken 2, so this can be easily forgiven) and some of the fight choreography felt adequate rather than accomplished and clumsy in places, while the villains were a little one dimensional and at times I found myself wanting to know more about them but this is not a film about the bad guys it's about a mother's desperation to rescue her child at any cost. Despite these minor niggles I was thoroughly engaged through out and the film moves along at a cracking pace. To have shot the film for a budget of around 150K is nothing short of incredible and an impressive achievement. Watch it with an open mind and I think you will not be disappointed. I am certain we will see more of Angela Dixon after this movie.