I can't wrap my head around why so many people hate this movie. It's almost as if we saw two completely different films. While the writing was nothing to write home about, the delivery from the cast was rather well executed. The cinematography was fantastic. The soundtrack was wonderful. The premise was intriguing, albeit not all too original, and although it seemed quite rushed especially in the latter half of the film, it was still quite enjoyable. This film deserves more credit than it's receiving and I would hope any and all who may be reading this would give the film a chance before blowing it off based on all these bad reviews.
230 Reviews
Modern "Frequency"
Piixie8828 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie when it was still under the title of "Relive". A cop learns his niece and her parents are killed. He soon starts receiving phone calls from his dead niece. Is it her ghost calling from the other side? No, it's her calling from the past, two weeks before her and her family are killed. The cop then tries to prevent their murder.
This movie is a revisited, modern version of the movie "Frequency" (2000) starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid. Instead of a father and son duo connecting through time, it's now an uncle and niece. A cell phone in place of a ham radio for communication among other differences. I'm not gonna reveal more on the movie to not spoil it.
Is the movie good? I think so. Are there better movies out there? Absolutely and definitely worse ones. I just dont think it's worth paying the price of a movie theatre ticket to watch this. You can stay in more comfortable at home and make it a movie night. Pay way less to stream the original and other movies with the money you saved on the ticket in any of the innumerable streaming services available.
This movie is a revisited, modern version of the movie "Frequency" (2000) starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid. Instead of a father and son duo connecting through time, it's now an uncle and niece. A cell phone in place of a ham radio for communication among other differences. I'm not gonna reveal more on the movie to not spoil it.
Is the movie good? I think so. Are there better movies out there? Absolutely and definitely worse ones. I just dont think it's worth paying the price of a movie theatre ticket to watch this. You can stay in more comfortable at home and make it a movie night. Pay way less to stream the original and other movies with the money you saved on the ticket in any of the innumerable streaming services available.
Good SF Thriller
Pairic4 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Don't Let Go: Detective Jack Radcliffe (David Oyelowo) is devastated when his brother's family is wiped out in an apparent murder/suicide. Things take a strange turn when he starts getting phone calls from his dead niece Ashley (Storm Reid). Jack realises that she is calling from the past and sets out to prevent the killings taking place. Interesting time paradoxes result as the action progresses in two timelines. Actions in past can affect the future but not always as intended and may result in further changed timelines. A complicated thriller with an overlay of SF/Time Travel Communication keeps the tension going. Some very violent scenes. Writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes delivers satisfactory mystery tale, tying up the loose threads provided you accept the time travel MacGuffin. 7/10.
Clever Concept, Great Performances & An Unfocused Execution
TwistedContent28 November 2019
I remember seeing the trailer and feeling potential, then the average or even below ratings came, others called them out and stated the movie's underrated, and, well, eventually I went in with one eyebrow raised high. The director Jacob Estes is guilty of making a movie that hit me hard when I was little, the 2004's "Mean Creek" - seen it a few times and that definitely made me a little more excited for "Don't Let Go". Well, the verdict - flawed and unfocused movie, but not exactly a disappointing experience.
"Don't Let Go" has a lot going on, a time travel plot, a whodunit (and why) mystery & the part that, in my opinion, worked the best - the central relationship between the detective Jack Radcliff (David Oyelowo) and his niece Ashley (Storm Reid), one of the movies main driving forces. The script is somehow both the best and worst thing about "Don't Let Go", it offers exciting themes, heartfelt relationships (helped a LOT by the very fine and devoted performances by the whole cast) & an uneven pacing. The themes of time travel and the many mysteries in need of solutions take turns slowly and sometimes weirdly, maybe even silly, resulting in a plot which, when taken as a whole, can be described as overly convoluted or lost in itself. Given the subject matter, "Don't Let Go" should be more thrilling, engaging and head-strong, but from the many goals Jacob Estes had pinned down only half was reached. Visually "Don't Let Go" is satisfying enough without impressing much, when it comes to action or violence, I can't say it shies away either, but, again, don't expect to be blown away by the movies aesthetic.
"Don't Let Go" is too much of a head-scratcher, strives for eventual coherency but partially misses it. Nevertheless, it has quite enough to offer & the ending has the potential of warming your heart up a bit and muddle some of its flaws in retrospect. If You can believe me, I think that neither the 4's or 8's are to be listened to here. My rating: 6/10.
"Don't Let Go" has a lot going on, a time travel plot, a whodunit (and why) mystery & the part that, in my opinion, worked the best - the central relationship between the detective Jack Radcliff (David Oyelowo) and his niece Ashley (Storm Reid), one of the movies main driving forces. The script is somehow both the best and worst thing about "Don't Let Go", it offers exciting themes, heartfelt relationships (helped a LOT by the very fine and devoted performances by the whole cast) & an uneven pacing. The themes of time travel and the many mysteries in need of solutions take turns slowly and sometimes weirdly, maybe even silly, resulting in a plot which, when taken as a whole, can be described as overly convoluted or lost in itself. Given the subject matter, "Don't Let Go" should be more thrilling, engaging and head-strong, but from the many goals Jacob Estes had pinned down only half was reached. Visually "Don't Let Go" is satisfying enough without impressing much, when it comes to action or violence, I can't say it shies away either, but, again, don't expect to be blown away by the movies aesthetic.
"Don't Let Go" is too much of a head-scratcher, strives for eventual coherency but partially misses it. Nevertheless, it has quite enough to offer & the ending has the potential of warming your heart up a bit and muddle some of its flaws in retrospect. If You can believe me, I think that neither the 4's or 8's are to be listened to here. My rating: 6/10.
Good thriller
Just-A-Girl-141 November 2020
I love me a good time twist thriller. It's a fast paced thriller with good cast. It was both suspenseful and emotional. I actually watched it expecting to see a horror movie (which it's not). Some parts don't make a lot of sense (or maybe I just didn't get it) but it's a fun watch!
Superb time travel thriller
omendata23 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I did not think this was going to much cop (pardon the pun) after reading some of the negative reviews; I tend to read them now as all the 9 & 10/10 reviews are mostly shills these days but in this case I was wrong.
Superb acting from all the cast with David Oyelowo stealing the show, tight writing, good pacing but what made the film for me was the music; it is very rare to find a film nowadays where the music actually adds suspense and gravitas to the movie like it does when John Williams or Hans Zimmer put pen to paper or finger to synth.
I cannot remember the movie frequency but might dig it out so I went into this with no preconceptions so was not comparing it to anything else. I like to go into the cinema and let the movie flow over me and am not like most folks trying to figure out who killed the butler in the smoking room with the axe but just let the movie unfold and enjoy it and this movie was a great example of quite a complex story so necessitates complete concentration and it works perfectly.
Even more unusual is the fact it was written, produced and directed by the same person; something very rarely achieved with success these days so this director will be one to watch for me if this smashing scifi thriller is anything to go by.
Ignore the critics, switch off and just immerse yourself in this movie and I can guarantee you will get more out of it than you might think!
Superb acting from all the cast with David Oyelowo stealing the show, tight writing, good pacing but what made the film for me was the music; it is very rare to find a film nowadays where the music actually adds suspense and gravitas to the movie like it does when John Williams or Hans Zimmer put pen to paper or finger to synth.
I cannot remember the movie frequency but might dig it out so I went into this with no preconceptions so was not comparing it to anything else. I like to go into the cinema and let the movie flow over me and am not like most folks trying to figure out who killed the butler in the smoking room with the axe but just let the movie unfold and enjoy it and this movie was a great example of quite a complex story so necessitates complete concentration and it works perfectly.
Even more unusual is the fact it was written, produced and directed by the same person; something very rarely achieved with success these days so this director will be one to watch for me if this smashing scifi thriller is anything to go by.
Ignore the critics, switch off and just immerse yourself in this movie and I can guarantee you will get more out of it than you might think!
Story a bit creative
ilovefoodcoma12 September 2019
Different but good different!
Ponsle19 December 2020
Good movie
robertwatson18 December 2020
Essentially a remake
drjgardner31 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This film follows the same ground as the film "Frequency" with Dennis Quaid, but what is missing from this film is a raison d'etra for how the time-travel happens. In Frequency it is an electrical storm. In this film it is nothing. It just happens. It's an OK film but w/o the cause it is simply an updated version of Frequency. I prefer Frequency.
Intelligent
axvngey25 October 2020
Four bars.
Pjtaylor-96-13804428 September 2019
'Don't Let Go (2019)' has a really interesting premise and, unlike most about which you could say the same, it generally knows what to do with it. Essentially, it focuses on a girl whose phone reception is so bad that it takes two weeks for a call to come through. All joking aside, the piece is a mystery-thriller that combines detective work with time travel. Though it's not necessarily the first time we've seen something like this, the flick feels remarkably fresh. Its concept and, to an extent, execution are inventive and invigorating. There's a remarkable sense of suspense throughout most of the narrative. The tension between the past and the present is always tightening until it explodes in an excellently edited conclusion. It isn't just justice that's on the line, it's life itself. Strangely, though, the underlying plot is broadly generic. A lot of its beats have been explored before, sans the central time-twisting dynamic. It falls into the trap of having its key reveal be relatively predictable precisely because it's trying to be so unpredictable. Some late-game revelations rely on barely established conceits and characters, if they've even been established at all. This makes the final act feel rather rushed, in a way, and leads to some 'telling not showing' moments. There are also some plot inconsistencies and contrivances that feel like products of the editing process. These don't matter too much, though, and are only really relevant in retrospect. The overall story makes sense, even if you think about it, and it's well-paced, too. It also features a number of nice micro-surprises that keep you guessing as to what's next. Though it's not all that memorable, the film is a fantastic in-the-moment experience. It's an enjoyably edge-of-your-seat affair throughout. 7/10
It's frustrating
Zenonkim1 September 2019
Don't Let Go is a frustrating film. It has a solid premise and a stable of consistently reliable actors, yet fails to use its seed of an idea to sprout more than a sapling of a film. In the post-show discussion of the six citizens of City of Geek present - the standard four of us and two friends - we came up with several far more interesting ways to use the set-up than the film itself did. That's why we found the Jacob Aaron Estes written and directed sci-fi/horror/thriller to be so frustrating. Don't Let Go doesn't allow itself to dig into a great idea in any sort of more-than-basic way.
Enjoyable movie.
stevedudesp30 November 2019
Unique Premise, Underrated Film
imjaredross13 November 2019
Don't Let Go really surprised me. It boasts an interesting premise with a great cast and overall a fun mystery. Following the story of a detective has he tried to save his family from being murdered he contacts his niece through the past to save the day.
It's a bizarre idea and even more bizarre that it manages to work. It's a huge surprise with great suspense and great acting. However, it does have problems in terms of the films tone which sometimes ends up being all over the place. But it manages to stay fulfilling through the end.
Of you haven't seen this movie, I say it's something to check out. It's unique and different, with a couple of problems along the way. However, I still say this is overall a win.
It's a bizarre idea and even more bizarre that it manages to work. It's a huge surprise with great suspense and great acting. However, it does have problems in terms of the films tone which sometimes ends up being all over the place. But it manages to stay fulfilling through the end.
Of you haven't seen this movie, I say it's something to check out. It's unique and different, with a couple of problems along the way. However, I still say this is overall a win.
Bold and blazing with emotion but under developed and uninformative
TuesdayThe17th23 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is the new film from the director of the 2004 bullying epic "Mean Creek" which also happens to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Jacob Aaron Estes has only directed 3 feature films since 2004 with a long hiatus in between "Don't Let Go" and his last movie "The Details". "Don't Let Go" is most definitely an engaging film with really good performances from the actors. There is also some really good choices here. I actually really liked this movie. Upon its release it didn't exactly appeal to me. Not until I realized who directed it was I interested. I was hoping this movie would hold even a percentage of the emotional effectiveness "Mean Creek" did, which ultimately it did. This is a deep and affecting film. What frustrated me largely was the fact that the time travel was never explained and we were left flapping in the breeze with no idea as to what or why everything is happening. It really hit the fan for me when it showed the newspaper say the date was Friday the 29th and the gurl said in her alternate time zone it was the 25th...that would mean for her it was Monday. But then about 15 minutes later and a confusing depict of the movies time passing, it is said that its the 26th and its a Thursday. That would make NO sense considering we were already told that the 29th is a Friday....which would make the 26th a Tuesday....bot a Thursday. This movie is confused in itself but its so expertly made at the same time. Its like we are getting a look at a real situation. Its a movie with zero self awareness which is kinda cool. Not everything always HAS to be laid out perfectly for us to understand but there should have at least been some rules laid out for us early on so we could continue to follow the story exactly. Instead we spent the whole run time playing detective but getting nowhere while fully engaged in the film. The movie is a bit cinematic and basically has everything going for it except for the execution of the time travel which ultimately makes up the whole film. Supposedly there is minor hints as to why the time warp began in the first place but it is very vague and too subtle. Coming from Jacob Aaron Estes I was expecting the deep emotional pull but wasn't expecting the lack of information as "Mean Creek" is flawless in every way... Oh well there is always next time for another break out hit because if any director has it in them, it's him.
Quite good!
Gordon-1122 December 2019
Is There Any Point In Fighting The Past?
boblipton16 January 2022
Police detective David Oyelowo's brother, sister-in-law and niece are brutally murdered at their home. He's called in, but just to answer questions to clear him. Then he gets a phone call from his niece, Storm Reid. She's not a ghost. She' calling from four day before the murder. Can he stop them from being killed?
It's similar in theme to 2000's FREQUENCY, but with better writing; things just happen, including the scientifictional time glitch, and the heavy hand of fate hangs over the entire proceedings, like a 21st Century MACBETH. Ethan Gold's score underlines the proceedings very nicely. With Mykelti Williamson and Alfred Molina.
It's similar in theme to 2000's FREQUENCY, but with better writing; things just happen, including the scientifictional time glitch, and the heavy hand of fate hangs over the entire proceedings, like a 21st Century MACBETH. Ethan Gold's score underlines the proceedings very nicely. With Mykelti Williamson and Alfred Molina.
Beautiful movie. What's with the reviews?
ymkz17 November 2019
V different
sameenuk3 October 2019
Conceptually, a good film. Some flaws in executing a complex way to tell a story. It passed the netflix test. I stopped whatever I was doing at the time because I wanted to pay this film more attention. I needed to know what was going on in a very unpredictable and messy first 20 minutes.
Once I grasped there was a kind of spiderverse type idea, then I started to enjoy it. Where it went wrong is me wondering if the protagonist somehow already knew by the time of the interrogation. The film jumped around a lot confusing me a bit. It just needed something in the corner telling us the viewer what the date and time was. Instead we had to Work it out which was time consuming mentally
The acting was on point for the uncle and niece relationship. That pivot was crucial to the film. Great acting by the lead. The film just failed a bit in the supporting cast who were a bit unconvincing. Just hard to see how consistency was maintained with the time jumping and the day of the murder shifting. It's also a bit hard to see anyone being shot like that continue without bleeding out.
I hope the dvd has some of the key scenes in it which I think must have been deleted for the cinema cut.
Once I grasped there was a kind of spiderverse type idea, then I started to enjoy it. Where it went wrong is me wondering if the protagonist somehow already knew by the time of the interrogation. The film jumped around a lot confusing me a bit. It just needed something in the corner telling us the viewer what the date and time was. Instead we had to Work it out which was time consuming mentally
The acting was on point for the uncle and niece relationship. That pivot was crucial to the film. Great acting by the lead. The film just failed a bit in the supporting cast who were a bit unconvincing. Just hard to see how consistency was maintained with the time jumping and the day of the murder shifting. It's also a bit hard to see anyone being shot like that continue without bleeding out.
I hope the dvd has some of the key scenes in it which I think must have been deleted for the cinema cut.
I really wanted to like this...
earthie8 December 2019
I would like to say that I love the scifi genre, especially time paradox movies...but the plot to this movie is a paradox itself because it made no sense. Despite the awkward acting from the beginning and the long pauses in the dialogue, I was on board during the first 30 mins but then it all starts falling apart. The ending has a twist but it was not satisfying or logical. I read some of the reviews in here that bashed the negative welcome this movie has received, but I have to agree with them. Total waste of time.
Better than these ratings.
metejones30 August 2019
Great ambient score
winyle-online29 September 2020
An interesting idea to guide the plot through the parallelism of events taking place in the present and the past, which is connected by a dialogue over the phone. But even more positively I was surprised by the soundtrack of this film. Ethan Gold did a very good job of creating electronic ambient music that introduces an amazing atmosphere and an element of horror. This is how the music in the film should sound, not what was presented in The Old Guard.
Never want to relive watching this
MarlonBrando011030 January 2019
This has to be the worst film to premiere at Sundance in half a decade. The fine cast does its best but the script just offers them a nonsensical sci-fi conceit that is never developed and paper thin cliche characters and dialog. Very disappointing.
Excellent Film
wcb12312 November 2019
What a gem of a film. Ignore the current low rating (5.8) . When the masses discover this it should easily climb to 7.5 +. The acting and cinematography was fantastic. Oyelowo, Reid, Williamson and Molina all deliver excellent performances. The story is clever and keeps you engaged till the end. If you like the time travel/parallel universe concept you'll really enjoy this film.
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