Halle Berry recently starred in a movie entitled Never Let Go, and those who enjoyed that will almost certainly find these other family-oriented monster movies just as interesting. Never Let Go is a 2024 horror thriller that follows a woman known as Momma and her two twin sons. Momma is plagued by visions of an invisible force called The Evil, which forces her and her children to rarely leave the house and remain tethered to each other with rope. However, when one of the twins begins to doubt the existence of The Evil, their sheltered lives begin to fall apart.
In some ways, Never Let Go pulls on some of the horror genre’s most popular tropes. There is a mother trying desperately to protect her children, an unseen monster that the characters must hide from, and a number of twists and turns that have audiences questioning what is real and what is not. In this way, those who loved Never Let Go will definitely be able to find other similar horror movies that are just as much fun. These films include some of the same themes and ideas as Never Let Go, but with distinctly different executions.
10 Mother! (2017)
A Young Woman’s Life Is Disrupted By A Mysterious Couple
Mother! (2017) 0
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*Availability in US Director Darren Aronofsky Release Date September 13, 2017 Writers Darren Aronofsky Cast Jennifer Lawrence , Javier Bardem , Ed Harris , Michelle Pfeiffer , Domhnall Gleeson , Brian Gleeson Runtime 115 minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
When it comes to movies about mothers, it is hard to ignore the 2017 psychological thriller movie literally entitled, Mother! Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, Mother! follows a young woman who is renovating the Victorian mansion she and her husband live in. Yet, her plans suddenly go awry when a mysterious couple and their child arrive at the home, and make the woman wonder why her husband is so friendly to them but not to her.
Mother! may not be for everyone, but it definitely provides the same mystery and tension as Never Let Go. Audiences are forced to sort out what is happening piece by piece, all while Lawrence’s Mother is broken down by what is happening around her. Furthermore, Mother! provides a huge reveal that parallels the twist ending of Never Let Go. Thus, the movies are well-matched, despite their differing styles and premises.
9 The Road (2009)
A Father & Son Travel Through An Apocalypse
The Road 0
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Based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, The Road centers on a father and son who attempt to make it to the coast after a global apocalypse wipes out all plant and animal life on Earth. The Road was directed by John Hillcoat and stars Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Director John Hillcoat Release Date November 25, 2009 Writers Joe Penhall Cast Kodi Smit-McPhee , Guy Pearce , Viggo Mortensen , Robert Duvall , Charlize Theron Runtime 111 minutes Studio(s) Dimension Films Distributor(s) Dimension Films Expand
For those who really enjoyed the dynamic between Momma and her sons, The Road is a great movie to check out. Based on the novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, the story follows a father and son who are traveling across the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is now America. Using the father’s survival skills and the son’s innocent hope, the pair try to keep civilization alive, despite gangs of criminals who have nefarious intentions.
Once again, The Road offers up a father-son connection that is similar to what is portrayed in Never Let Go. Though the son may be too young or innocent to understand the reality of his situation, the father is more aware of the dangers surrounding them. However, it is important to note that The Road may not be as mind-bending as Never Let Go. Rather than being a psychological mystery, The Road leans more toward sci-fi and action. Regardless, it is a story that shares many ties with Never Let Go.
8 Hereditary (2018)
A Family Is Haunted By A Demon King
Hereditary 7
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The feature film debut of writer-director Ari Aster, Hereditary tells the story of the unwittingly cursed Graham family. Annie Graham (Toni Collette) lives with her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne) and their children Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro). After the death of Annie’s mother, the family is beset by disaster and stalked by a supernatural entity that dredges up a past that Annie had spent her life trying to overlook.
Director Ari Aster Release Date June 8, 2018 Writers Ari Aster Cast Toni Collette , Milly Shapiro , Zachary Arthur , Gabriel Byrne , Mallory Bechtel , Alex Wolff , Ann Dowd Runtime 2h 7m Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 Expand
One of the most popular horror movies of the late 2010s is Ari Aster’s Hereditary. This horrifying movie follows a suburban family after the death of their matriarch. Following her funeral, each member of the family is haunted by their ancestral ties and the secrets that lurk beneath their history. Eventually, everything comes to a head when a dark force infiltrates the family once and for all, leading to some of the scariest scenes in recent horror movie history.
Just like how Momma, Samuel, and Nolan each have different perspectives on The Evil, the various characters in
Hereditary
suffer or cope in distinct ways.
Hereditary is yet another horror movie that pulls on themes of family. However, what really parallels this movie with Never Let Go is the ways in which each character is affected differently by the situation at hand. Just like how Momma, Samuel, and Nolan each have different perspectives on The Evil, the various characters in Hereditary suffer or cope in distinct ways. However, once both movies reach their climaxes, it is impossible to pull apart the families and the evils coming after them.
7 The Babadook (2014)
A Single Mother Is Haunted By Her Trauma
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Jennifer Kent’s directorial debut follows Amelia, a widowed Australian mother still grieving the violent death of her husband. When Amelia’s son Samuel begins insisting that a monster has taken up residence in their home, she must attempt to keep Sam safe despite the looming seemingly supernatural presence that threatens to take both of their lives. Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman star as Amelia and Samuel.
Director Jennifer Kent Release Date November 28, 2014 Writers Jennifer Kent Cast Noah Wiseman , Essie Davis Runtime 94 minutes Studio(s) Umbrella Entertainmen Distributor(s) Umbrella Entertainmen Expand
Another title that is probably recognizable to most audiences is the movie The Babadook. This Australian film follows a single mother who is haunted by the violent death of her husband. Meanwhile, she must contend with her son’s fear of a monster lurking around their home. Ultimately, the woman’s trauma and her son’s imagination collide when she discovers that a dark force may actually be inside her house, influencing her every move.
In many ways, the relationship between Amelia and Samuel in The Babadook parallels the relationship between Momma and her sons in Never Let Go. Amelia and Momma are both desperate to protect their children, no matter the cost. However, their sanity is also on the line, making it more and more difficult for them to fight off the danger coming to them. Although Samuel and the twins have different reactions to the monster at play, both movies explore the idea of trauma and mothers fighting tooth and nail for their children.
6 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
A Woman Is Stuck In A Bunker
10 Cloverfield Lane 0
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From Dan Trachtenberg, 10 Cloverfield Lane follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a young woman who awakens after a car crash in a bunker alongside two strangers. Howard (John Goodman) tells her that it’s not safe to leave, and that he saved her life, but Michelle becomes increasingly suspicious of Howard’s motives and his past and begins to plan a daring escape to see what exactly has happened to the outside world.
Director Dan Trachtenberg Release Date March 10, 2016 Writers Josh Campbell , Matthew Stuecken , Damien Chazelle Cast John Goodman , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , John Gallagher Jr. , Douglas M. Griffin , Suzanne Cryer , Bradley Cooper Runtime 103 Minutes Franchise(s) Cloverfield prequel(s) Cloverfield Studio(s) Bad Robot Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Main Genre Thriller Expand
Despite its sci-fi roots, 10 Cloverfield Lane has much more in common with Never Let Go than some might think. This 2016 movie follows Michelle, a woman who gets into a car accident and wakes up in a locked underground bunker with two men who claim the apocalypse has arrived. Stuck between feeling safe and endangered, Michelle must come to her own conclusions about what is going out in the outside world, and more importantly, who she can trust.
10 Cloverfield Lane
is part of a horror franchise, including
Cloverfield
and the
Cloverfield Paradox.
10 Cloverfield Lane is ideal for those audiences who love being at the edge of their seat, wondering what the truth is. Just like Never Let Go dangles the question of whether The Evil is real, 10 Cloverfield Lane constantly makes viewers wonder whether the apocalypse is actually happening, or if something more sinister is at play. Ultimately, 10 Cloverfield Lane draws on more sci-fi elements than Never Let Go, but it is still an engaging watch with a central mystery that will grip almost any audience member.
5 Mama (2013)
Two Little Girls Are Found After Five Years
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Mama is the 2013 feature-length adaptation of Andy Muschietti’s horror short film of the same name. It follows a pair of little girls, Victoria and Lilly, who get adopted by a supernatural spirit. When their uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain) intervene, they realize that helping the feral children is no easy task.
Director Andres Muschietti Release Date February 21, 2013 Writers Andres Muschietti Cast Jessica Chastain , Isabelle Nélisse , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Runtime 100 Minutes Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Expand
A lesser-known movie that sort of flips the script on Never Let Go is Mama. Released in 2013, Mama tells the story of two sisters who go missing on the day their parents die. After five years of desperate searching, the girls are found safe and sound, and are brought to live with their uncle and his girlfriend. However, as she tries to adapt the girls to normal life, the girlfriend realizes that the girls may not be as unscathed as they originally seemed.
Related Where To Watch Never Let Go: Showtimes & Streaming Status
Halle Berry returns to the horror movie genre in 2024, and there are options for where to watch Never Let Go in theaters or at home on streaming.
There are some fairly clear connections between Mama and Never Let Go. For example, Jessica Chastain’s Annabel is responsible for two little girls, meanwhile a monster creeps under the surface. However, what is more interesting is how Mama follows the complete opposite script of Never Let Go. While the twins in the 2024 movie wonder whether they can trust their mother, Annabel must ask herself whether she can trust the twins. In this way, Mama offers a very similar story, but completely flipped on its head.
4 Take Shelter (2011)
A Man Starts Having Strange Nightmares
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Take Shelter is a psychological thriller directed by Jeff Nichols. The film follows Curtis LaForche, played by Michael Shannon, a man overwhelmed by apocalyptic visions. As he grapples with disturbing dreams and hallucinations, Curtis’s behavior begins to alienate his family and friends. Jessica Chastain co-stars as his supportive wife Samantha. The film explores themes of mental illness, trust, and the boundaries between reality and illusion.
Director Jeff Nichols Release Date September 30, 2011 Writers Jeff Nichols Cast Michael Shannon , Jessica Chastain , Shea Whigham , Katy Mixon , Kathy Baker Runtime 120 Minutes Studio(s) Hydraulx Entertainment , Rei Capital , Grove Hill Productions , Strange Matter Films Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Classics Main Genre Thriller Expand
Those seeking more of a psychological thriller than a horror movie should definitely check out 2011’s Take Shelter. The movie stars Michael Shannon as Curtis, a regular small-town man who begins having nightmares about an impending apocalypse. Shook by his dreams, Curtis begins acting strangely towards his peers, and more importantly, building a storm shelter in his backyard. Eventually, Curtis’ behavior and dreams put a wedge between himself and his beloved family.
Take Shelter is a movie that really hones in on a character like Momma from Never Let Go. Although those around Curtis, and maybe even the audience, want to believe in him, his actions become so erratic that it is easy to question his sanity. On top of that, Take Shelter includes that family element that makes Never Let Go that much more complicated and high stakes. Though there may not be a monster at play here, Take Shelter will certainly leave audiences with a lot of burning questions.
3 It Comes At Night (2017)
Two Families Hide From The Apocalypse
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Written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, It Comes At Night is a Psychological Horror film starring Joel Edgerton and Christopher Abbott. The 2017 release chronicles the fate of a family that attempts to hide in the woods away from society when the world is overtaken by a deadly virus.
Director Trey Edward Shults Release Date June 9, 2017 Writers Trey Edward Shults Cast Kelvin Harrison Jr. , Joel Edgerton , Christopher Abbott , Carmen Ejogo , Riley Keough Runtime 97minutes Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 Expand
For those who like their horror movies a bit more ambiguous, It Comes At Night is the perfect pick. This horror mystery is set during an apocalypse that wiped out most of the human population. Two families live in a house together, banding together against the evil outside despite their discomfort with each other. Yet, things take a turn when they realize that the real evil may not be outside the house, but within it.
Until the very end of It Comes At Night, the movie keeps audiences on their toes. Viewers are constantly second guessing what is real and who to trust. Furthermore, like Never Let Go, characters’ actions can completely upend reality, leading to even more danger and risk of death. It Comes At Night may be more vague than Never Let Go, but it is still gripping and full of haunting images and scenes.
2 Bird Box (2018)
A Mother Must Blindly Protect Her Children
Bird Box 3
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Bird Box shows the apocalypse through the ears of Malorie Hayes (Sandra Bullock), a mother of two who tries to get her children to safety after realizing that the demonic entities who are ravaging the world only affect their victims through their eyes. The 2018 Netflix hit is based on Josh Malerman’s 2014 novel of the same name.
Director Susanne Bier Release Date December 13, 2018 Writers Eric Heisserer , Josh Malerman Cast Machine Gun Kelly , Pruitt Taylor Vince , BD Wong , Danielle Macdonald , Lil Rel Howery , Tom Hollander , Julian Edwards , Sarah Paulson , Rosa Salazar , Parminder Nagra , Sandra Bullock , Trevante Rhodes , Vivien Lyra Blair , John Malkovich , Jacki Weaver Runtime 124 minutes Studio(s) Netflix Distributor(s) Netflix Expand
A hit horror movie from 2018 that definitely has ties to Never Let Go is Bird Box. This horror action flick starring Sandra Bullock takes place in a world where a mysterious force has decimated humankind. All the survivors know is that if they look at the monster, it will take the form of their worst fears, and they will die. Therefore, a mother and her children must travel to a potential sanctuary blindfolded in the hopes that they can make it there with their lives.
Related 10 Terrifying Horror Movie Monsters That Deserved More Than 1 Film
Movie monsters are usually brought back for countless sequels, but some of the scariest horror movie monsters only ever appeared in one film.
Bird Box is ideal for those who love horror movies where the monster has a unique twist. The fact that Bird Box’s characters have to remain blindfolded for much of the movie is such an interesting twist, it makes the rest of the film that much more enticing. On top of that, Bird Box benefits from an amazing cast including Sarah Paulson and John Malkovich. Like Never Let Go, Bird Box has a gimmick that works.
1 A Quiet Place (2018)
A Family Must Stay Quiet To Survive
A Quiet Place 0
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A Quiet Place takes place in a world ravaged by predatory alien beings with ultra-sensitive hearing. With humanity on the brink of extinction, the Abbott family has managed to carve out a delicate survival by living in total silence, but with a baby on the way, their tentative peace seems more fragile than ever. A Quiet Place stars John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe and is directed by Krasinski.
Director John Krasinski Release Date April 3, 2018 Writers Bryan Woods , Scott Beck , John Krasinski Cast Emily Blunt , John Krasinski , Millie Simmonds , Noah Jupe , Cade Woodward , Leon Russom Runtime 90 Minutes Studio(s) Platinum Dunes , Sunday Night Productions Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Expand
What is likely the best movie to watch after Never Let Go is A Quiet Place. This horror sensation starring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt tells the story of a family who must remain silent at all times to protect themselves from alien invaders who track their prey down through sound. Using sign language and a number of intelligent tactics, the family tries to keep themselves alive while the mother prepares to give birth to another child.
Horror movies often rely heavily on loud noises to scare their audiences, but
A Quiet Place
does the opposite.
If A Quiet Place is anything, it is an experience. Horror movies often rely heavily on loud noises to scare their audiences, but A Quiet Place does the opposite. It builds tension through silence, and the risk of catching the attention of the monster. Once again, A Quiet Place parallels Never Let Go because of the monster’s distinct gimmick, but it also includes themes of family and protecting those you love. All in all, A Quiet Place is the perfect movie to watch after Never Let Go.
Never Let Go HorrorThriller
A mother and her twin sons are trapped in their house by a malevolent force, relying on their familial bond and physical connection for safety. When one son questions the reality of the evil, their unity unravels, leading to a terrifying battle for survival in this psychological thriller/horror.
Director Alexandre Aja Release Date September 27, 2024 Writers Kevin Coughlin , Ryan Grassby Cast Halle Berry , Percy Daggs IV , Anthony B. Jenkins Studio(s) 21 Laps Entertainment Distributor(s) Lionsgate Films Main Genre Horror Expand