At the end of ‘Don’t Let Go,’ Jack slowly begins to piece together the mystery behind Ashley’s death. However, his quest to get to the bottom of the truth puts him in the line of danger as a bigger conspiracy comes into the picture. Meanwhile, things get further complicated when past-Ashley begins to realize that she is conversing with a future version of her uncle. The leap from one timeline to the other stands to create some unexpected consequences for both actors as each decision gives rise to a new possibility. With time passing so quickly, Jack must do whatever he can to make sure that the tragedy isn’t repeated and his niece’s life is saved by any means possible. By the last few minutes, the intricate synthesis between murder mystery and time travel narrative yields a finale that, though unclear, brings curtains to Jack’s crisis cause. SPOILERS FOLLOW.
Don’t Let Go Plot Synopsis
‘Don’t Let Go’ starts with Detective Jack Radcliff answering a call from his niece Ashley. When Garret, Ashley’s father, does not answer her calls, the girl invites her uncle for a ride. They go out to a restaurant and eat some food and discuss Garret and his lack of responsibility. He is presently undergoing treatment for his bipolar disorder. Jack assures to have a candid conversation with Garret and correct his shortcomings as a father. The following day, Jack gets a phone call from Ashley, which is troubling due to her terrified tone. He goes to her residence and finds the front door open. After searching the house, Jack finds that Garret and his wife Susan have been murdered. Unfortunately, his niece Ashely is deceased as well, and her body is in the bathtub.
Jack becomes depressed and upset upon learning of his niece’s death. It is clear that he holds himself responsible for the loss of the entire family, particularly upon the cops declaring it a murder-suicide caused by Garret. Several days later, events take a peculiar twist when Jack gets a series of calls from Ashley’s abandoned phone. He is perplexed about the entire thing until he answers one of the calls and realizes it is Ashley’s voice. The more he speaks, the more Jack understands that something does not feel right with the entire scenario. While in one such communication, he puts a theory to test by asking Ashley to perform certain activities at her house. Having gone to the home grounds personally, Jack comes to understand that Ashley is communicating to him from the past and knows nothing about her own death. He makes a decision to hide that information and is concerned about how he can save her life before the deadly murder occurs. As soon as it is confirmed that Jack and Ashley are talking from different timelines, the film begins to alternate points of view between the two characters. Jack begins going over what occurred on her murder day and attempts to identify who could be responsible for her death. He then discovers an elusive character called Georgie, who could be responsible for a string of serious drug-related offenses in the city. Jack believes that Garret was set up and that Georgie is responsible for the murder. Yet another big blow comes to him during his investigation when he is fatally shot during a drive-by shooting. Later, he is compelled to take extreme measures by calling Ashley and requesting she get her father arrested by the police. The slight change in events results in Jack not dying from the shooting.
Don’t Let Go Ending: Is Jack Honest With Ashley?
Following Jack’s escape from his close-to-death experience, he learns the murder date of Ashley has been changed to a day earlier. Therefore, he is left with an even stricter schedule to rescue his niece’s life. He calls her and finds that she is experiencing the same day as the day she was supposed to die. Jack is left with no other option but to expose the reality about her doomed murder. He instructs Ashley to head to the diner. In the modern-day timeline, Jack also does the same. The two both have a moment together, a space of time between them. In that instant, Jack finally tells his niece the truth, explaining to her in straightforward and uncomplicated language that she passes away later in the day. He encourages her to protect herself from it by escaping from town before something terrible occurs.
Ashley chooses to follow Jack’s instructions, believing that he is indeed talking to her from the future. She returns home with the same intention in mind. In the meantime, Jack also makes up his mind to dig deeper into the case, intent on unraveling the mystery and illuminating the identity of the killer. However, it is quite clear that informing Ashley alleviates some part of his mind, particularly after the helplessness he has endured for major portions of the story. While both Garret and Susan are important to him, it was Ashley’s death that hit him the most, specifically because of their strong relationship and how she perceives him as a father. He will do everything in his power to save her, even if it means escaping from the town altogether.
Who is Behind Ashley and Her Family’s Death? Why?
The grand revelation of Ashley, Garret, and Susan’s murderer comes after Jack continues to pursue the Georgie tip. He makes a visit to the police station, attempting to uncover additional clues on the elusive drug lord. However, the theories surrounding Georgie are dispelled when Jack does some more digging. His friend Bobby, also the main investigator into Ashley’s murder, and boss Howard assist him in trying to discover more about the real identity of Georgie. They inform him that the individual is not an actual drug lord, as previously identified. Rather, Georgie is a code name for a collection of corrupt cops within the Southwestern Police Department. It is probable, then, that one of those filthy cops killed Garret and his family, with the reasons still unclear.
Howard and Bobby bring Jack to a deserted place to investigate the case a bit deeper. However, after they arrive, there is a twist when Bobby shoots Howard before Jack’s eyes, with Jack in shock at what is happening. Later on, Bobby confirms that he is part of the members in the Georgie gang of dirty cops. He also clarifies it was him who murdered Ashley and her parents. It turns out that Garret had declined to assist the Georgie group with a drug transaction they sought to carry out. This disappointed them with Garret, and as a result, an assassination order was issued. Bobby raided Garret’s house and that of his family on the fateful evening and slaughtered them all mercilessly. It prevented any loose ends while also enabling the group to proceed with their string of corrupt activities without detection. Garret was therefore never a murderer of the crime, as the cops suspected in the initial stages. Actually, Bobby had been playing and manipulating Jack as the good friend all along in the movie. He was always on the take with the corrupt cops and was directly responsible for killing a family of individuals he knew intimately. Jack is betrayed by the discovery and also left without means to save himself as Bobby squeezes him with the gun. But since the latter is unaware of Jack’s capacity to call Ashley via time, he takes it that his friend obtained it from another source. He asks Jack how he was able to find out what really happened to Ashley without the help of others. Since death is hanging over his head, this allows Jack to have one final card up his sleeve.
Does Jack Save His Niece? What Happens to Bobby?
In the old timeline, Ashley is fetched home by Bobby. Since she does not know that Bobby is the cause of her death, she welcomes him to the house, anticipating that he can safeguard her as well as her whole family from the danger warned to her by Jack. However, this is the incorrect choice because Bobby immediately takes the entire group hostage at gunpoint as he steps through the door. Bobby murders Garret and Susan and Ashley runs for her life. Bobby chases her in his vehicle. In the present time, the past version of Ashley gets in touch over the phone with Jack, who remains hostage at gunpoint by Bobby. He tells her that the best way she can survive is to take a direct route to his residence and seek refuge in his former self. Even though Ashley cannot think of how to flee Bobby, she is compelled to act as per his advice.
She is able to reach Jack’s home. No one, however, responds to the door when she knocks on it. She attempts to look for a means to get in by searching through the premises, hoping her uncle Jack will locate her somewhere. It is just a matter of seconds later when Bobby shows up at the scene and pins Ashley on the ground. Jack too shows up, and he and Bobby confront each other with Ashley’s life hanging in the balance. Having seen that his niece is in jeopardy, he shoots and kills Bobby, even though this version of him does not know anything about what Bobby’s plans were. Then Jack hugs Ashley and comforts her. Struggling to understand the situation throughout much of the story, Jack finally succeeds in his end goal of rescuing Ashley. It happens in a circuitous way, but he likely does not mind as long as she lives in some form. Read More: Best Horror Movies on Netflix
