I love these kinds of no-bullshit movies. There’s no fluff, boring character development, or anything like that. Wham, bam, and off we go. Don’t Move is a simple and highly effective survival thriller following a young woman trying to get away from a serial killer. The story is unfolding in real-time making it feel even more intense than it already is. Sure, there will be a couple of cheesy details and you kind of already know how this whole thing is going to end but still… I found the entire experience both entertaining and engaging. I guess, the story needed a couple more characters or elements to work with.
That way, it could offer at least some surprises. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be any because there most certainly will be. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this movie could’ve been better. Some of you might find the story a bit preposterous and just a tad bit contrived. In fact, if you look for logical errors, you’ll find them all right. If you know what you’re getting yourself into, you should be fine. After all, the running time is quite short (90 minutes) and the pacing is quite fast. And if you already have a Netflix subscription, Don’t Move is a no-brainer. Just remember that this is a thriller and not a horror.
I should also add that apart from the main characters, the setting also plays a huge role. The stunning and lush nature made me want to go outside and touch grass. Add to this excellent cinematography and good camera work and you got yourself quite an impactful little movie. Don’t Move was actually filmed in Bulgaria and not the USA although you really can’t tell that. Well, a couple of brief opening scenes were indeed filmed in the USA but that’s about it. I never knew Bulgaria had such stunning landscapes.
However, I have to admit that most of my experience comes from early 2000s B movies so there’s that. Kelsey Asbille was good as Iris but Finn Wittrock stole the show here as Richard. You might remember him from the television shows American Horror Story and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. It’s truly amazing what he did with this character despite so little to go off on. I guess that’s the mark of a great actor. While we’re talking names, I want you to remember the following four: Adam Schindler, Brian Netto, TJ Cimfel, and David White.
They’re the directors and writers of Don’t Move and I can already see a bright future for all of them. If I could give them any advice it would be to add something extra, something personal and unrelated to the main story. Something that’s just there to further immerse the viewer into this world of moving pictures they’ve created. Moving on, apart from this movie, we recently had the pleasure of watching another sleek-looking chase thriller unfolding in real time.
I’m talking about, of course, Strange Darling, a movie I highly recommend you check out. If, however, you’re looking for something even more minimalistic, highly underrated indie thriller Cold Meat is a great choice.
Director: Brian Netto, Adam Schindler
Writer: T.J. Cimfel, David White
Cast: Kelsey Asbille, Finn Wittrock, Moray Treadwell, Daniel Francis, Kate Nichols
Fun Facts: The only movie Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Spider-Man) produced in 2024.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24807110/
