“Let Me Go (The Right Way)” takes Destry Allyn Spielberg, Hopper Penn, and Owen King (a who’s who of Hollywood Heavyweights’ progeny) and teams them to deliver what can easily be described as a psychological thriller with big feature aspirations. Spielberg and writer King play on the concept of the Mandela Effect (with a dash of “Memento” and Phillip K. Dick), and use it to spin a tale that is a lot about collective memory, and what can feel like going insane when we’re stricken with mental illness.
Convinced that his life is being manipulated by an outside source, Aiden makes an appointment with the amiable Dr. Kemp. Initially, Dr. Kemp is a calming, supportive presence, whose insights into Aiden’s difficulties promise an encouragingly positive prognosis. Over multiple sessions, however, the relationship between the doctor and his patient begins to take on new, ominous shades. As Aiden’s condition fails to improve – and, in fact, worsens – he begins to question kindly Dr. Kemp’s intentions.
A lot of “Let Me Go…” relies on an unreliable (and unstable) narrator, a man who may or may not be the object of a massive conspiracy. Things are moving around his apartment, items are disappearing, and suddenly his identity has changed. When he appeals to a psychiatrist, things just seem to be getting worse. Whether or not Spielberg and King meant the ultimate resolution to be literal or not is moot. What “Let Me Go…” relies on a lot is our interpretation of events and what we decide is real or just fabrications of our protagonists mind. Penn’s character is severely mentally ill, and it’s a good chance that his doctor is only hurting his development in the long run.
Often times mental illness can balloon in to our perception of events being skewed, and we either resolve to submit to the fact we’re ill, or continue elevating the delusions. Sometimes it’s easier to let the delusion pull you under. Whether or not what’s happening to Aiden is left entirely up to the audience, but we’re left with this sensationalistic image that we’ll either accept or just presume as further delusions; much like Aiden. It’s hard to peg what “Let Me Go (The Right Way)” is aiming for, whether it is a proof of concept or just a short film one and done thriller, director Destry Allyn Spielberg seems to be aiming high for cerebral. “Let Me Go (The Right Way)” is a very good psychological thriller with a neo-noir tinge. I am interested to see what Spielberg, and King concoct next.
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