This Intense Mystery Thriller Hit #4 on Netflix & I Strongly Disagree with its Rotten Tomatoes Score

Six years ago, one of the most trippy mystery thrillers I'd ever seen officially hit theaters. In the film, David Oyelowo stars as Detective Jack, a grieving uncle who receives a mysterious call from his deceased niece, Ashley (played brilliantly by Storm Reid), and what ensues is a fascinating investigation as the pair work together to solve her case.

In case you haven't seen it, the movie in question is Jacob Aaron Estes's Don't Let Go, which is currently the fourth most-watched movie on Netflix. When I first watched this nail-biting thriller, it had me on the edge of my seat from the moment Detective Jack received that call—and the time-travel element only made it more fascinating. I was so impressed by the entire main cast, and I especially loved how it tackled themes of loss, grief and family dynamics. So, you could imagine my surprise when I discovered that this film currently holds a measly 42 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Per the official Critics Consensus, "Don't Let Go suffers from a formulaic approach compounded by its uneven writing and an awkward tonal balance." Um. I'm sorry, but what?

First off, I will admit that this film is not perfect. Was I able to predict a few things? Well, yes. But this didn’t hinder my ability to thoroughly enjoy it—and I wouldn't go as far as calling the movie formulaic. The premise is genuinely fascinating and unique. (I mean, a detective teaming up with his deceased niece from the past to solve her own murder?? Consider me very intrigued.) And as the events unfolded, I was never quite sure of how things would play out. I thought: Will Jack ever get enough clues to figure this thing out? Or will Ashley just end up dying in different ways?

I would also argue that the buildup of suspense throughout the film (thanks in part to the creepy soundtrack and those haunting sequences of Jack poking around for clues) is pretty consistent. And it's worth noting that there's a major twist that I certainly didn’t see coming.

Another bonus? The chemistry between Oyelowo and Reid. It's reminiscent of a loving father-daughter duo with an enduring bond, and seeing them both go to such great lengths to solve this mystery and reunite really tugged at my heartstrings.