Halle knows how to make an entrance! The Oscar-winning actress wowwed fans at a surprise screening of her latest film, Never Let Go, making heads turn by her stunning appearance and trademark charm. But it wasn’t just the star power of this beauty that lit up the event; some very creative twists turned an evening exceptionally special.
Berry, with her always dynamic and powerful roles on screen, was there to grace the screening with her hair styled in such a nostalgic nod to old times. Hairstyles made her instantly recognizable in her 2013 instantaneous hit entitled The Call, proved she can still rock this look. Instantly, fans recognized the style, thrilled to see Berry do some sort of incorporation with regards to the memories she took out from her past works.
But that was not the only surprise there. Berry brought one extra accessory along: a bag of wigs, à la what she sported in The Call. The lighthearted move wasn’t lost on fans-many of whom donned their own wigs for the screening. “My people! ” she hollered with a grin-beholden to the playfulness in the air. All jokes about movie wigs aside, for an actress who has been the punchline of years’ worth of jokes about movie wigs, it was a light-hearted way to lean into the fun, celebrating her fans.
Never Let Go is a psychological thriller directed by Alexandre Aja with a horror twist. It’s the chilling story of a mother protecting her family from an evil spirit. Berry plays the role of a mother, iron tough and determined, whose instincts for survival are engendered when her effort at salvation for her children is pitted against an annihilating force.
The movie is replete with suspense, fear, and heart-stopping moments; however, it’s Berry’s intense on-screen performance that really drives it. She exudes a character-what else can be said of a mother who has been really isolated for years-a credibility that is appreciated by critics and fans alike.
For this role, Berry literally pulled out all the stops. She learned real survival skills-hunting frogs, skinning squirrels-to bring the raw realism to her character.
It wasn’t just for acting scared,” she explained, “I wanted to really understand what it would be like to live like that, completely cut off from the world, with nothing but your instincts to protect your family.
Berry said she simply plunged into this heavy role. She took practical survival skills applied to her character’s isolation, which further enhanced her performance. The effort put toward understanding what it would feel like psychologically and physically to be a mother in such a dire situation shone through in the portrayal of the character.
Berry said she was excited by the challenge something entirely different allows her to turn up at complex themes about reality and maternal bonds. The surprise screening was filled with an excitedly chattering audience-not only because of Berry’s appearance but firstly and foremost for the film itself. Fans spilled their thoughts online moments after it got released; most praised Halle Berry for her solid performance. “She carries the whole movie,” one wrote. “Her acting as a mother fighting for her children is powerful and emotional.
The film’s ending has, however, received mixed reviews: while some find it heartwarming and a message of hope, about love triumphing over fear, others have gone scratching their heads over what seemed to them like an ambiguous ending. “I’m not sure what really happened,” one fan said over Twitter, “but it left me thinking over it long after it ended.”
Berry, however, seems to embrace the fact that her film is inciting controversy. “That’s what I love about this movie,” she said. “It makes you question everything. Is love strong enough to overcome fear? Can you trust your own mind when things get tough? It’s questions that stay with you, and I think that’s the beauty of this film.
Halle Berry has never been one to make her fans feel like outsiders, as seen multiple times throughout her career and again at the Never Let Go screening. From wigs shared to jokes made about some of her past hairstyles, Berry proved once again she can work her audience with charisma and genuineness.
