The film begins with a patient in the hospital, Diane (Sarah Paulson). Diane has just given birth to a baby girl named Chloe. But as Diane wakes up after giving birth and having an operation, she receives an update from the doctors about her baby, leaving her eager to know if she will be ok. The film then jumps forward in time and shows Diane and Chloe in the present day. Chloe (Kiera Allen) is now a teenager who uses a wheelchair and daily deals with other medical issues. Some of these challenges relate to getting heat rashes, having difficulty breathing, and problems with her heart rate.
Diane and Chloe have a positive relationship as mother and daughter. Diane goes above and beyond to take care of her only daughter. It’s evident that Chloe is quite intelligent and desires to attend a university to pursue a career on her own. But one day, Chloe begins to questions some aspects around her, including the type of medication she receives, becoming highly suspicious of her very own mother. The more she investigates, the more she feels something doesn’t feel right and wonders if her mother has kept something from her.
As a film, Run has many elements which were pleasing to see. It’s suspenseful, mysterious, and filled with many moments I found tense to watch. This is primarily thanks to an excellent storyline and the performances of both Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen. It should also be noted that according to Variety Magazine, actress Kiera Allen has been using a wheelchair since 2014 in real life. The filmmakers wanted to cast someone who was disabled, creating a rare casting opportunity in Hollywood and adding an exquisite touch of realism to the character. I’m glad at the filmmaker’s choices in casting this film. Run has also been made with a minimal cast, and to the filmmakers credit, it all works here.
For the most part, I found this film unpredictable, but I can’t deny some little moments were also evident. But even when something was predictable, I still had a great time watching it all unfold, especially during the rewarding third and final act. The visuals are brilliant, and the surround audio was also superb, delivering a giant smile to my face while at the same time creating tension. Nothing on screen is ever dull, but there was always something happening that kept me excited and entertained for the whole duration.
Overall, Run is a blast. It’s suspenseful, mysterious and tense. It’s been a while since a film made me want to bite my fingernails, but thanks to the engaging storyline and performances from Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen, I was doing so here. While the story elements were somewhat obvious, I still had a great time watching it all unravel, leading to a solid finale. This film surprised me, and after having seen Run (2020) and Searching (2018), I now proudly say I am a fan of director Aneesh Chaganty. Run (2020) is Now Available on Netflix!
8.8/10
4th April 2021
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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