Run Sweetheart Run

This film is a real shame. It had the makings of a decent thriller but the heavy handed #metoo messaging ruins the immersion. Every man in it is irredeemably evil / stupid even when it makes absolutely no sense from a character motivation viewpoint. Rather than spending time on a plot it lurches from one evil misogyny trope to the next, sexist boss, man fondling on the tube, evil white billionaire, evil white male cop, selfish former boyfriend etc. At the end of the film all you are left thinking is damn who hurt you re the writers.

You really don't have to hit your audience in the face with your message in every scene.

Let me get straight to it - this movie is good for what is but it does have holes in it, holes that need more context overall. Nonetheless, the film keeps your attention throughout the film even though you will have a lot of questions. It can't go deeper within all that's happening as the film goes on, and the answers you want are where those holes are in the story.

Production quality is solid but the storyline is where the questions begin to build. You hope for answers but you don't really get them, only a possible hint that feels like it's left open to your own interpretation, yet you can't stop watching it because you want to, have to see how the film ends for Cherie (the main character).

Towards the end of the film is where it gets sort of weird a little bit, maybe a little cheesy. In its entirety, you're left wondering the what, when, where, and why.

If you're going to watch it, expect a weird story but also know there's holes. Enjoy.

Starts well. Exciting, mysterious atmosphere.

Pans out into a dark survival mix of The Purge,The Hunt/Ready or Not montage promise.

Some great moments of 'oh no this is a bad idea' foreboding horror warnings.

Grows enjoyably with a dark atmosphere, a meeting / date / becomes more than with a good solid lead cast and support.

A good growing paranormal undertone develops then... bam! Turns into a mess of obtuse metaphors and old cliches mixed with modern life pressures worries and messages which are just runs out of steam and time rushed school essay ending' B movie I did enjoy it, despite some dragged out parts.

Some nice twists in the ideas but... Had so much more potential.

Try harder next time.

😎

Breaking the 4th wall unsuccessfully since it looks like a mistake, 'surprise' moments of the bag guy showing up that are wholly predictable and completely unrealistic, ppl who are supposed to be on her side but are 'in' on it that is given away after 5 seconds removing all tension, I mean give your audience some credit. Stop spelling everything out. I want to give the Ella Balinska and Pillar Asbeak some credit, they are really trying. The female protagonist is not allowed to act smartly, she's in panic mode the whole movie. She gets trapped somewhere, door knob rattles and instead of looking for another way out or a weapon, she's made to come out through the same door looking like a deer in headlights. Where is the tension and build up in that? I was not scared even one second. It's not the acting that's the problem by way, I need to say that. The cast is really trying. It's bad direction. It feels like a film school movie, though students may do better with way less budget.

Run Sweetheart Run has a very simple concept, that works thanks to a great lead performance and an entertaining first two acts. Unfortunately it doesn't fully stick the landing.

The positives of this movie, of course Ella Balinska is great. She is easily the best part about this movie and did a really nice job. Pilou Asbæk was also pretty good as the villain. The movie is very well directed with some nice cinematography. There's some nice stylistic choices that give the movie a kinda fun feel. It's very fast paced and once the movie starts, it never really stops. Its constantly entertaining from start to finish which made this movie a fun watch.

However this film suffers from its final 20 minutes. It completely shifts into something quite ridiculous, and it almost steered away the first two acts. It suddenly tries to bash you with this message in the final act that just kinda felt a little too much. And finally I felt that the film had too many scenes of 4th wall breaking. It felt very strange and rather distracting.

Overall despite a disappointing final act, and strange stylistic choices, Run Sweetheart Run is a fun movie elevated by a great lead performance, fast pacing, and good directing.