Review of Run
midlandsmovies • April 3, 2021
Run (2021) Dir. Aneesh Chaganty
Chloe Sherman is a teenager with angst about going to college who battles her over-protective mother Diane in a new tense thriller from Aneesh Chagnaty called Run.
Chloe is played excellently by Kiera Allen (who is a real-life wheelchair user) whilst her mother is a suitably caring (at first) Sarah Paulson whose concerns about protecting her disabled daughter soon become over-bearing.
But one day, Chloe finds a re-labelled bottle of pills in the cupboard, yet her attempts to find out what’s going on are thwarted by her mother who has cut the internet off and refuses to see her post about her college applications.
Anxious and concerned that there is a darker secret underlying these strange occurrences, Chloe tricks her mum at a movie theatre and discovers a shocking fact at a local pharmacy. Yet after the incident Chloe now has more restrictions on her freedom at home with her bedroom door and windows now locked.
The wheelchair bound Kiera Allen is a revelation and the film shows the struggles with some aspects of life which affect Chloe’s ability to easily find out more about her possibly dangerous situation. And Paulson delivers a suitably contrary performance as her increasingly erratic carer.
[Mild spoilers]
Like the real-life 2017 documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest (our review) it is slowly revealed the film explores Munchausen syndrome by proxy – the condition where a parent themselves induces health problems in their offspring. The serious topic gives the film an interesting angle but it certainly sits more firmly in the thriller genre rather than an all-out serious drama. As Chloe’s attempts to get away become more desperate, the film increases the stakes and we get tense cat-and-mouse sequences, riveting suspense sequences and enthralling attempts to escape.
Almost entirely based on the relationship of the two main actresses, it’s fantastic that they both more than deliver here. Paulson draws on her TV role as Nurse Ratched as the unhinged “protector” and Kiera Allen captures the vulnerabilities and determination of a young woman dealing with her daily condition and the added restrictions placed upon her by her captor.
Tonally though the film has more in common with early 90s thrillers The Hand that Rocks the Cradle and Misery as well as the more recent Greta (our review) which was influenced by similar movies from that same era. With exaggerated clashes the daughter does everything she can to escape her mother’s clutches with her disability proving to be an extra frustration to do so.
Balancing the more serious themes of control and manipulation with rousing thriller tropes, Run ends as an entertaining and extremely suspenseful movie held together by a dynamic double-header from the always watchable Paulson and an exceptional performance from newcomer Kiera Allen.
Michael Sales
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Pete Key, Jai Blanks and Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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