‘You can’t escape a mother’s love’
Run. aka Run is a 2020 horror thriller film about a disabled homeschooled teenager who suspects her mother is keeping a dark secret from her.
Directed by Aneesh Chaganty (Searching) from a screenplay co-written with Sev Ohanian, the Lionsgate production stars Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen and Onalee Ames. Produced by Sev Ohanian and Natalie Qasabian.
Deadline is reporting that: “The Sarah Paulson thriller Run has become Hulu’s most-watched feature title ever during its opening weekend, and has ranked as the most talked-about Hulu Original Film to date on Twitter.”
In fact, Stephen King has commented favourably on Twitter, saying:
RUN (Hulu): No extraneous bullshit. Just nerve-splintering terror.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 24, 2020
Plot:
They say you can never escape a mother’s love… but for Chloe, that’s not a comfort — it’s a threat. There’s something unnatural, even sinister about the relationship between Chloe (Kiera Allen) and her mom, Diane (Sarah Paulson). Diane has raised her daughter in total isolation, controlling every move she’s made since birth, and there are secrets that Chloe’s only beginning to grasp…
Reviews:
“Newcomer Kiera Allen completely holds her own as well. A Taissa Farmiga lookalike, Allen is a true find, making Chloe not only likable and sympathetic but every bit as savvy and maybe even more intelligent than any able-bodied person. Director Aneesh Chaganty deploys genre tropes—there does come that time when Chloe finds a shoebox of Convenient Exposition—but also goes against the grain with other particular beats.” The Artful Critic
“Run can provide stock thrills and decent drama in a pinch. Obviously, this isn’t the first Munchausen by Proxy scenario used in a horror film. The other aspect to the twist is hardly a shock either. But there’s a sting to the epilogue that’ll bring a satisfying smirk to anyone who wants to see good triumph over evil in a very grey way.” Culture Crypt
“There’s plenty of suspense and tension to keep you glued to the screen but unfortunately it feels as though this story doesn’t reach its full potential and the direction is too familiar, it would have pushed the film much further to see it take more risks. That said, it’s entertaining and definitely worth watching, especially if you’re a Paulson fan.” Film Carnage
“Run is a satisfying thriller that, despite its formulaic nature, contains some interesting elements that reaffirms Aneesh Chaganty as a promising new voice in the industry. With some solid performances from its two leads, several inspired sequences and its positive representation of Chloe as a character who happened to be in a wheelchair (versus a ‘wheelchaired character’), Run is a solid title and is well worth your time.” Film Pulse
“This lets Chaganty and company go hard with the homestretch, which has a few nifty individual bits but isn’t quite up to what came before, one of those cases where switching locations highlights a character’s ability to think on her feet at the expense of her being surrounded by things with meaning to her and the audience. There aren’t a lot of other missteps here, though…” Jay’s Movie Blog
“Run is a remarkable achievement not just as a film, but as a platform for strong, fierce disabled people to see themselves fighting against circumstances and demons no one ever talks about enough. Chloe is brilliant and independent and strong in ways even her mother could not imagine her capable of being, and it is these assets that allow her to fight her way to and beyond survival.” Killer Horror Critic
“Chaganty has not only given us a film that’s unnerving but another one that shows how important representation in film truly is […] With a stellar standout performance by Allen and another unforgettable performance by Paulson, Run is a film that will have you cheering for our heroine while trying to escape the terror of a deranged parent’s love.” Nightmarish Conjurings
“The well-performed cat-and-mouse between the two leads helps Run over occasional bumps in its plausibility road, as when Diane confines Chloe to what can only be described as her Exposition Room. Chaganty also keeps the tension and pacing humming consistently enough to hold your attention throughout, particularly during a lengthy mid-film stretch devoted simply to Chloe attempting an escape from her own house.” Rue Morgue
” …the performances are top-notch. Sarah Paulson is as always, perfection, balancing caring with overbearing and creepy, but it is Kiera Allen who really shines in her feature debut […] Unfortunately, along that way the film is totally predictable – I guessed the “twist” before the opening credits – and also…kinda silly…” The Scariest Things
“While the suspense is indeed white-knuckle, there are a few times where you’ll probably think to yourself, “Wait… nobody would really say or do that.” I don’t mind suspending disbelief for a fun flick, but I would have liked to have seen a little more logic applied here […] Overall, Run is fast-paced, easy to enjoy, and fills the entertainment bill. Recommended.” We Live Entertainment
Scroll down for YouTube review(s)
Release:
Run was due to be released theatrically on May 8th by Lionsgate but that was cancelled due to the pandemic. Hulu will now stream Run exclusively from November 20th 2020.
Cast and characters:
Sarah Paulson … Diane Sherman
Kiera Allen … Chloe Sherman
Onalee Ames … Crying Hands
Pat Healy
Carter Heintz … Nivea Boy
Sara Sohn
Clark Webster … Loser
Conan Hodgkinson … Winner
Erik Athavale … Doctor
Bradley Sawatzky … Obstetrician
Steve Pacaud … Doctor (uncredited)
Derek James Trapp … Nurse (uncredited)
Technical details:
90 minutes
Aspect ratio: 2.39: 1
Trailer:
YouTube reviews:
