Run Sweetheart Run follows Cherie who struggles for her life trying to escape the clutches of Ethan, her abusive date, adamant about playing a deadly game.
Directed by Shana Feste, Run Sweetheart Run is a 2020 American horror movie starring Ella Ballinska and Pilou Asbæk as Cherie and Ethan respectively. The film also stars Clark Gregg, Aml Ameen, Dayo Okeniyi, Betsy Brandt, and Shohreh Aghdashloo. A blend of horror and social commentary, Run Sweetheart Run tries its best to interlink both in a bold move by Shana Feste that’s worth appreciating.
The Story
After reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with Ethan, a charming businessman, single mother Cherie finds herself in grave danger. What lies behind Ethan’s charming demeanor remains a mystery for a while.
The date night between Cherie and Ethan turns out to be an utterly shocking experience for Cherie – something she wouldn’t imagine in her wildest dreams.
Behind Ethan’s charming facade lies a cold-hearted monster who lusts for power and thrives on abuse. Wanting Cherie to submit to his wishes, Ethan invents a game in which he chases her till she gives in.
The thrilling game begins and Cherie runs for her life on the most horrific night of her entire life. Cherie goes through a frightening ordeal after being betrayed by the ones she trusted. As Ethan continues to hunt Cherie, the question remains – Does Cherie survive the night of horror?
Reasons To Stream
Run Sweetheart Run works well on the account of delivering a social commentary on patriarchy and its terrible effects on women. Though the theme does get repetitive after a point in the movie, genuine attempts are made by the director, Shana Feste, through this experimental horror format.
Commendable performance by Pilou Asbæk, playing the role of Ethan, who’s charming at first but then slowly reveals his dark, deadly aspect of being a monster.
Ella Balinska is captivating in the role of Cherie, a sweet woman who doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers and slowly transforms into her own protector. Flawlessly portraying the variations in the emotions necessitated by the characters, Ella does justice to the character she has portrayed.
The movie shines the best in the thrilling chase sequences delivering exciting jumpscares on several occasions. The desperation of Cherie as she runs around in the streets when trying to escape her nightmarish date is brought out well, thanks to the commendable cinematography as well as the individual acting performance by Ella.
Reasons To Skip
Does it deliver on the horror element as promised? The answer is debatable. Barring some genuinely gruesome scenes, Run Sweetheart Run doesn’t create a lot of room for horror.
In its attempt to feed the social commentary, horror takes a backseat. Failing to fare well in the horror department, Run Sweetheart Run might end up disappointing audiences looking for a genuine scare.
The repetitive usage of metaphors in Run Sweetheart Run and the assumption that the audience needs to be spoon-fed results in a faltering storyline. The social commentary in works well initially but loses its impact when it becomes repetitive. Similarly, the repetitive breaking of the fourth wall leaves a similar impact.
The climax struggles to impress – a lost chance one can say as a lot gets crammed within a short timeline, and the added mythology doesn’t land well because it is dealt with in haste.
The Verdict
Run Sweetheart Run can be an indulgence for its experimental approach and for performances by Ella Balinska and Pilou Asbæk. The cat-and-mouse chase is definitely fun and thrilling, making it worth a one-time watch. If one is specifically looking for a fast-paced horror flick with an impressive narrative, Run Sweetheart Run may not be the right pick.
Rating: 3/5
Run Sweetheart Run is now streaming on Prime Video.
Read More: Run Sweetheart Run Ending Explained: Does Cherie Survive Ethan’s Game?