If we can maneuver time we can change the World, or in this case the lives of a family made up of a father, mother, young girl and a dog.
David Oyelowo playing Detective Jack Radcliff is uncle to the Garret family and his interaction through time with niece Ashley is the core of the script for Don’t Let Go. He covers for Ashley’s dad who is not reliable and has problems with drugs and dealers. When Jack receives a frantic call from Ashley his attempt to save the Garret family comes up short and he finds everyone at his brother’s home shot to death.
The pressure from that incident weighs on him until he receives a cell phone call from Ashley after she is killed. Little is produced to explain the happening, but we quickly understand that he is living a few days before the murders and has the opportunity to save the family. The script becomes confusing at times as Jack is wounded both in the present time and in the past and the resistance he receives from fellow policemen is confusing. Part of that is with a purpose but some leaves us scratching our heads to figure just what has happen.
We can’t help compare Don’t Let Go to the powerful and well performed Frequency from 2000 with Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel as father and son who communicate over time through a ham radio from the past. The scripts are similar but Frequency sends its message much clearer. Don’t Let Go also reminds us of the Denzel Washington turn in Deja Vu in a 2000 film in which he interferes with the past to save the life of a young woman.
It’s a solid premise and the movement is like revolving chess pieces in a manner that is not allowed but make the game more interesting.
Oyelowo and young Storm Reid effectively carry the film. Oyelowo is completely confused by the position he finds him self in and Reid expresses emotion as one would expect from a young girl who must match wits with underworld characters. She carries the film quite well, even when on her new bicycle.
Don’t Let Go doesn’t let go, the action and tension are right up front through out the film. The confusion limits the effectiveness of the plot but no one will look away from the for screen for one-second once the film starts.