Sarah (Sarah Snook) is a single mother to her only daughter, Mia (Lily LaTorre). During the day, Sarah works as a doctor in the field of fertility and will often drop off and collect Mia from school. At this time, Sarah is dealing with losing her father, whose belongings remain at her house. On top of losing her father, we understand that Sarah has a dark and mysterious past relating to her childhood. No matter the challenges around her, Sarah remains focused, strong-willed, and protective, particularly if anything occurs regarding Mia.
However, strange things begin to occur for Sarah when she witnesses a sudden change in Mia’s behaviour. Mia starts to speak and act differently. Sarah also finds that Mia is beginning to ask strange questions and do many bizarre things, such as wearing a cardboard rabbit mask, drawing horrifying pictures, and speaking of people from the past whom Mia has never met, including Sarah’s mother, Joan. Why is Mia acting so differently suddenly? Is it a way of dealing with past trauma? Or perhaps something far more sinister lurks around Sarah’s once peaceful home?
This film does have an excellent haunting presence and contains drama and horror. Many scenes here are dramatic and downright tense to watch unfold. There’s also an excellent sense of mystery as viewers try to uncover the minor clues provided throughout the film. Granted, I found most of the reveals predictable and obvious thanks to dialogue that almost felt like it was spelling out the twists long before they occurred. The musical score by Mark Bradshaw and Marcus Whale is somewhat basic, but it’s also highly effective at various times, enhancing the tension.
Once again, actress Sarah Snook shines in the leading role of Sarah. She’s a mother who will do anything for her daughter. Still, it’s also evident that something strange, mysterious, and tragic lingers in her past, which is slowly resurfacing. Dealing with the sudden change in her daughter Mia is another complex matter that Sarah is forced to deal with. I enjoyed seeing Mia’s personality be extraordinary and unexpected, thanks to the young actress Lily LaTorre. Lily has several moments where she shined excellently.
While performances are strong and there are several uncomfortable and tense moments, I was disappointed by one central area: the pace. While the movie did begin strongly, and I felt instantly hooked in the first act, the pacing is often highly drawn out. This is particularly evident in the third act, which I found challenging to get through. The final moments aren’t rewarding, either.
Overall, if you’re seeking a film that contains a few genuinely unsettling, strange, and bizarre moments, Run Rabbit Run delivers. At times, it is filled with horror and hard-hitting drama. Once again, I admire the top performance from Sarah Snook as the lead, and the performance from young actress Lily LaTorre also shined strongly. As for the plot, some aspects are predictable and obvious, and the pacing is a significant issue. You can feel the film dragging on, particularly in the third act, which I found challenging to get through.
5.1/10
30th June 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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