After what seems like an eternity of being drip-fed some mediocre movies (a result of the pandemic), the Easter weekend arrives and so does a bunch of new must-see films. One of these is Run – a psychological thriller which has just landed on Netflix.
The movie, which is directed by Annesh Chaganty, stars Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen. It focuses on the relationship between a mother and daughter, which takes a rather sinister turn.
In Run, Diane Sherman (Paulson) gives birth to a premature baby, who is born with a series of life-changing conditions. The birth alters the course of Diane’s life, and she realises that moving forward she must become the carer of her child.
Flash forward 17 years, and Diane has settled into a routine with her house-bound daughter, Chloe (Allen). She home schools her daughter, cooks for her, helps with Chloe’s medication, and keeps her safe.
But with Chloe heading towards adulthood, she naturally wants to get out of the house and embark on the next stage of her life – a few years away at college. Problem is, Diane is not-so keen to let her daughter go, and will do everything in her power to maintain the status quo.
If you live in the US you may have already watched Run, as it dropped on Hulu in late 2020. However, if you don’t live in the States, Run is available to watch on Netflix from today. And you should watch Run.
This is a tense, pulse-pounding thriller, which circles similar territory to Misery (1990) and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). It is a movie which utilises a minimal cast, few locations, and a tight running time (just under 90 minutes).
Run also boasts superb central performances from its two leads, a story which never runs out of steam, and enough tension to keep even the most restless audiences engaged. I’m talking phones put to one side, eyes locked on screen, palms getting sweaty.
The beauty of Run is the way in which it brings so much to the screen through so little. There are no huge explosions, no flashy gimmicks, just a couple of actors going through a range of emotions, in a situation which becomes increasingly more complicated and more frantic.
There are moments in the movie in which you will find yourself shouting at the screen, wishing you could do something to change the events as they unfold. I know this to be true, because I did exactly this while watching the movie – not that it helped, of course, but it certainly added to the experience.
And if you’re someone who is worried that this all sounds a little too stressful, and maybe a little too much like a horror movie, while Run goes to some dark places, it never quite tips into full-on horror territory. Instead, it manages to find that sweet spot, where it delivers plenty of chills without the need for jump scares.
A heap of new movies have been released for the Easter weekend, including Godzilla vs. Kong and Antebellum; both of which you should watch. But you should also ensure you give Run 90 minutes of your time – this is an excellent thriller, perfect for some late-night viewing.
2020 was a tough year, and 2021 is still on shaky ground, but with movies like Run it finally it feels as if the film industry is moving in the right direction, and delivering some superb entertainment. Fingers crossed that everything remains on course, but in the meantime enjoy the treats that are being served up this weekend.
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