I seldom choose movies based on the actors appearing in them. I definitely have performers who I enjoy and am happy when they are acting in movies that I am choosing to see, but a performer’s inclusion in a movie is almost never the deciding factor for me. This week was an exception. I loved Sarah Snook’s work as Shiv Roy in “Succession” and have been missing her since the show ended, so I decided to watch Daina Reid’s new film “Run Rabbit Run,” currently streaming on Netflix.
Sarah (Snook) is a single mom trying to make a life for herself and her daughter Mia (Lily LaTorre). When Sarah’s father dies, she must get back in contact with her estranged mother Joan (Greta Scacchi). Despite having never met her grandmother, Mia claims to miss her, and as time goes by, she develops a strange obsession with seeing Joan. When they finally meet, Joan calls Mia “Alice,” which causes Sarah some consternation. Eventually Sarah shares that Alice was her sister who went missing years ago. As time passes and Mia’s behavior becomes more erratic, will Sarah be able to help her daughter?
There are elements of this movie that really worked for me. Both Snook and LaTorre give exceptional performances. I was absolutely riveted by both of them. I don’t think we’ve seen a parent/child duo that has been so impressive in a horror movie since Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman in “The Babadook.” The truth is, there were a lot of moments during this movie that reminded me of that film. The quality of the performances and the general themes had a lot of echoes in my mind.
But despite the similarities, this movie fell short for me with the story. There were elements that felt like they were going somewhere interesting, but they never quite hit. I think if you’re going to use metaphors for family trauma, you need to be a bit more creative with the methods used, and this movie couldn’t quite get there.
Which isn’t to say that this movie doesn’t have some genuinely creepy moments. As the tension builds through the third act, there were a few times when I had some true concern for the safety of the characters, and that is always a positive. If everyone feels like they’re going to be okay in a horror movie, you have missed the horror, and this left me questioning that quite a bit.
But ultimately, despite the exceptional performances from Snook and LaTorre, and the general creepy atmosphere that it managed to convey, this movie takes a long time to get to its climax and the payoff felt a bit lacking. I don’t mind a slow burn film, but I expect there to be a fire at the end, and in my opinion, “Run Rabbit Run” only ever smolders.
ALISE CHAFFINS is a Morgantown writer who loves movies and sharing her opinions. She reviews a movie from a streaming service every Saturday and one newly in theaters every Sunday. Find more at MacGuffin or Meaning on Substack.
