Run Sweetheart Run is a 2020 horror movie that follows the terrifying experience of Cherie as she tries to make it through the night, escaping from her unusual date Ethan who turns out to be a monster in disguise.
Directed by Shana Feste and starring Ella Balinska and Pilou Asbæk, Run Sweetheart Run is based on director Shana Feste’s real-life experience of escaping a date that went wrong. A Blumhouse Production, Run Sweetheart Run follows Cherie who agrees to go on a business meeting with Ethan, upon the insistence of her boss, only to end up in great trouble. The film had its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Run Sweetheart Run Story Summary
Cherie (Ella Balinska) is a single mother who works as an assistant at a law firm and is unhappy with her job. Though her boss James R. Fuller (Clark Gregg) is not the best in the world, she knows she has to compromise on a lot of occasions as she has the responsibility of raising her daughter on her shoulders. On one such occasion, her boss tells her that she double booked him and hence she has to go on a dinner with one of his clients instead of him. She hires a babysitter to take care of her daughter while she is out on dinner with the client.
The client is Ethan (Pilou Asbæk), and though he is an extremely charming man, Cherie can’t help but sense that there’s something off about him. The business meeting turns into a sort of date that Cherie reluctantly signs up for and Ethan makes a gin and tonic drink for Cherie that he claims is the only drink he can make.
To Cherie’s surprise, the date with Ethan is going well and she finds herself getting caught up in his charming and sophisticated demeanor. Ethan asks Cherie to stay for one more drink and to stay the night but she remains doubtful at first. After a bit of hesitation, she agrees to take the date forward and enters Ethan’s house.
By now, it becomes apparent that Ethan is hiding something sinister within himself. Moments later, Cherie’s screams are heard behind the closed door and she comes out with clothes ripped, hair disheveled, and mascara running down her eyes from the tears that seemed to have dried up.
Cherie runs into the street screaming for help and bangs on someone’s gate, but the house owner who clearly notices Cherie from her bedroom window ignores her and switches off her bedside lamp. Finally, Cherie asks for help from strangers who help her call 911 and the cops arrive, but they refuse to believe a thing Cherie says and end up locking her in a cell with another woman inmate.
Looking at Cherie’s disturbing appearance, the woman inmate asks her what happened. Cherie describes Ethan to the woman and explains to her the horrific experience she went through on the date with him. Upon listening to Cherie’s story, the woman refuses to share the cell with her because she is terrified as she knows who Ethan is. Warning Cherie, the woman tells her that Cherie has been “marked” and that Ethan won’t give up till he wins and that he also has connections with powerful men all around, even the cops. Cherie also gets to know that there are other girls who have gone through the same and ended up dead once “marked” by Ethan.
Right after her cellmate leaves, to Cherie’s shock, Ethan pays a visit to her cell and tells her about a sickening game he wants her to play and in which he is going to hunt her down. In order to survive, Cherie has to make it through the night. She is then let out of jail and starts walking on the streets with no other option but to be part of Ethan’s terrible game.
Cherie has an awful time finding help as everyone she meets while trying to make it through the night seems to be a part of Ethan’s games along with the cops, cab drivers, neighbors, and her boss, James.
Upon telling her boss about Ethan, Cherie realizes the shocking fact that James knew the truth about Ethan the whole time. Judy, Jame’s wife, warns Cherie about Ethan and tells her that she needs to find the First Lady as she is the only hope Cherie has to escape the clutches of Ethan.
Run Sweetheart Run Ending Explained
Throughout the night, Ethan tortures Cherie whenever he ends up finding her, and the horrific game continues. Cherie breathes a sigh of relief when Trey, her ex, picks her up and gives her a place to rest in his home with his family. Unfortunately, Ethan ends up tracking Cherie once again and brutally killing Trey and his whole family.
Whoever stands by Cherie and tries to protect her is taken down by Ethan but whoever is in on Ethan’s game survives. Ethan seems to be almost invincible, but it turns out that dogs are his biggest fear.
Did Cherie Defeat Ethan With The First Lady’s Help?
Having lost everyone who tried to protect her, Cherie decides that she must defend herself. A dog turns out to be Cherie’s guide as it leads her to the First Lady. The First Lady gives an important piece of information about Ethan’s identity to Cherie. Initially, Ethan was supposed to be the protector of humanity but ended up being a monster because of his greed for power. The First Lady is actually an angel who was sent to stop the monstrosity being spread by Ethan.
The First Lady asks Cherie for help in defeating Ethan, but Cherie just wants to go home as she had suffered enough. Upon encouragement from the First Lady, Cherie realizes that it is important that the monster be stopped so that he doesn’t harm other women.
Cherie accepts her role in the First Lady’s plan to bring Ethan down for good. Cherie acts as the lure in an attempt to draw Ethan from his hiding place. He finds Cherie from the scent of her blood and begins torturing her again, but Cherie manages to survive it all and puts up a tough fight. While Cherie was being inflicted with pain by Ethan, she is offered protection by the other ladies sent by the First Lady.
Realizing she isn’t succeeding in the fight, Cherie pretends to give in and surrender to Ethan. By the time Ethan catches on to her plan, it gets too late as Cherie breaks the wall and lets the daylight in. The plan was for Cherie to endure the pain and survive the night as Ethan could not stand against daylight.
Finally, with the sun coming out, the prey becomes the predator as now Ethan is the one being chased. Ethan runs up to a terrace of a building where the First Lady chases him down.
Having finally found the power and courage to take down Ethan, Cherie helps the First Lady set the monster on fire, and Ethan finally perishes. A sense of relief washes over Cherie because not only did she survive the night but also realized her true strength.
In the end, Cherie finally returns home to her daughter and embraces her lovingly, knowing that nothing can harm her and her daughter anymore.
Run Sweetheart Run is now streaming on Prime Video.
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I love the movie but im curious as to why ethan is scared of dogs