Fortunately, dark and creepy atmosphere helps us get in the Halloween mood for what plays out before our eyes. Plus, Sarah Snook (Succession) gives a terrific performance as the frantic mom and Lily La Lorre (You and Me Before and After) puts a star in her crown for excellent work as the troubled child. Here’s hoping we see more of these two in future films. .
In a way, RUN RABBIT RUN reminds me of 1999’s THE SIXTH SENSE with Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment. (Remember that frightened boy saying, “I see dead people.”) And I mean that as a compliment. Although it’s not as classy, RUN RABBIT RUN had me as deeply involved in a child’s uncanny situation.
“I am Alice,” young Mia cries.
“That is not true ,” her mother sighs.
She tries to change her daughter’s mind.
But Mia’s brain is in a bind.
A white rabbit found seems a sign.
Has ghostly danger crossed the line?
Suspense and lots of mystery
engulf the screen for fans like me.
RUN RABBIT RUN is not for all.
But actors answer horror’s call.
And background music helps the show.
If you like scares, they’re here you know.
Director Daina Reid (The Handmaid’s Tale) sets a creepy pace to get our attention. I usually don’t like dark scenes, but RUN RABBIT RUN needs them. The house mother and daughter live in seems gloomy -- and that works too.
Supporting actors deserve mention here including Greta Schacchi as Mia’s grandmother she has never seen before, Neil Melville as Mia’s father, and Shabana Azeez as Mia’s stepmother. They all contribute to the “feel real” nature of this movie. And that’s unusual in films dealing with the supernatural. Kudos also to Hannah Kent for her interesting screenplay.
How does RUN RABBIT RUN end? Of course, I can’t tell you. But it’s worth finding out for yourself.
The gem of horror only tempts the strong. --- Jean Lorrain
The suspense is terrible. I hope it lasts. --- Orson Welles
(Released by Netflix. Rated TV-MA.)
I have been watching Australian movies lately because they are free. Often small budget offerings, they give a slice of life that is quite different from what we have here in United States and are very enjoyable. The criminality of the original settlers seems alive and well today in stories like the TV series, Mister in Between.
I didn't like The Sixth Sense because it was just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo like The Exorcist without the shock value. I can see that the story derives from Alice in Wonderland. While I like Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane's rendition of White Rabbit from the rabbit hole of an LSD trip, I'm not sure I would enjoy a scared rabbit child in Run, Rabbit Run.
Strangely, I greatly enjoyed my two days of fasting and a night alone in the forest where I was told to give them my observations of squirrels scurrying about in the night doing what squirrels do. It was a rather warm night and I enjoyed sleeping out… Quite relaxed and not ever afraid of the dark or anything like that. I loved sleeping on the ground even at a young age. Never fearful except in lightning storms with strong winds and rain trying to get under cover.
Anyway, they must have run out of names when they pounded on my shoulder and gave me my Order of the Arrow Indian name--Scared Rabbit! I was appalled but accepted the name, knowing that after naming so many others like Proud Eagle, etc. they had completely run out of elegant names for poor latecomers like me.
Ron