Released: 2nd April 2021 (International Release)
Length: 89 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Starring: Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen
Indian-American director Aneesh Chaganty is one of the most promising young filmmakers in the business. He’s able to take a basic premise and elevate it into an engaging cinematic project. Following up his success with Searching, the director brings another contained release with Run. Just like the former, this psychological thriller is a compelling ride.
The premise is incredibly simple; single mother Diane Sherman (Sarah Paulson) gives birth to a baby girl with many complications including asthma, diabetes and paralysis. Some seventeen years later, Chloe Sherman (Kiera Allen) is well used to her regular routine of medication and home-schooling. Things take a turn for the worst when our protagonist finds something peculiar about the drugs she has taken throughout her life. What starts as a simple misunderstanding transitions into a disturbing realisation; Chloe’s life is turned upside down and she’s soon caught in a sinister struggle for escape. Initially, the narrative starts off slow, lulling the audience into a false sense of security. Once Chloe starts going against her mother’s wishes, the slow trickle of information makes for an engaging hook. By the time we reach the final act, you can feel the searing desperation; without giving anything away, the lengths Diane will go to keep her daughter grounded are harrowing. The story’s realistic tone continues to be a driving force in the director’s films, making the most of a modest budget and setting.
You can count the main cast members on one hand and they all deliver great performances. Sarah Paulson, hot off her success as the cold-hearted Nurse Ratched, brings a twisted and psychotic angle to her character. The layers are slowly peeled back, revealing an insane woman underneath. In some ways her performance is reminiscent of 1990’s Misery; kind-hearted at one moment and explosively aggressive the next. Standing in opposition is Kiera Allen, who creates a resourceful and incredibly likeable character. Chloe may be confined to her wheelchair, but she’s also smart, virtuous and determined. There are many moments in the film where she has to get by without the use of her disability aids. Being paralysed herself, Allen makes these moments as convincing and painful as possible. This also results in many tense moments; one scene involving an inhaler was a real nail-biter. Because you root for Chloe in her plight, Run is incredibly successful at pulling the audience in.
Run is a brilliantly produced thriller that often feels scarily plausible; it teases out the grim details of its story while squeezing every last drop of talent out of its small cast, getting you seriously invested in the process. It’s the very definition of a hidden gem and I urge you not to miss it. You should go into it knowing as little as possible for maximum impact.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)