Smart and engaging, Run is exactly the thriller we were looking for this year. Featuring a sharp script and stellar performances, it’s definitely a must-see. Right from the opening scene you can kind of guess what’s going to happen but this doesn’t make it predictable or boring. In fact… You simply have a feeling that everyone involved knew what they were doing and remained focused on the main goal. And that main goal is to keep the viewer on the edge of the seat for ninety minutes. Nothing more and nothing less.
In the sea of thrillers, the reason why I chose this one was Sarah Paulson. She was phenomenal in American Horror and Crime Story, and practically carried the visually stunning but ultimately flawed Ratched. And we could say the same for Run if it weren’t for Kiera Allen. Kiera, who uses a wheelchair in real life, rivaled Sarah with her compelling performance here. And this was her debut role. One of the things that made Run so engaging is this focus on the daily life and struggles of a person who has health issues. It makes you think how easy we have it, not thinking about our health every day.
Chloe Sherman, had to fight all her life. Born prematurely, she suffers from arrhythmia, hemochromatosis, diabetes and paralysis. Her mother Diane helped her push through all these problems and now 17-year-old Chloe is awaiting an acceptance letter from the University of Washington. What she doesn’t know is that there’s a secret that threatens to jeopardize her whole life…
After the huge success of Searching, a high-concept thriller starring John Cho, Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian did it again. This time they expanded the setting from computer monitors to an ordinary house. And if you’re getting Stephen King vibes from this one, it’s for a good reason. There are several references to his novels throughout Run, as sort of an homage to the great writer. Ultimately, this is not a perfect movie and there are several questions that remain unanswered but the pacing is so good you’ll quickly forget about them. If you’re looking for similar movies, I recommend you check out another 2020 high-concept thriller Unhinged starring Russel Crowe.
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Writers: Aneesh Chaganty, Sev Ohanian
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Pat Healy, Erik Athavale, BJ Harrison, Bradley Sawatzky
Fun Facts: A deleted scene shows that Diane was the child of a very abusive mother who killed herself in front of her at the age of 7. This helped explain Diane’s back scars.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8633478/
