Run.

Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, Run. follows handicapped teen Chloe Sherman (Kiera Allen) as she become convinced that her mother (Sarah Paulson’s Diane) is hiding a dark, dangerous secret. There’s little doubt that Run improves considerably as it progresses, as the movie, written by Chaganty and Sev Ohanian, kicks off with an opening half hour that isn’t quite as gripping or even interesting as one might’ve hoped – with the less-than-surprising nature of Diane’s intentions contributing heavily to the somewhat uninvolving atmosphere (ie it feels like the viewer is eight steps ahead of Chloe and is just waiting for her to catch up). It’s equally clear, then, that the film eventually does move into an increasingly engrossing midsection that boasts one enthralling, suspenseful interlude after another, including a fantastic sequence in which Chloe attempts to make a phone call without her mom noticing, with the often unbearably tense atmosphere heightened by Chaganty’s solid directorial choices and a pair of captivating lead performances – with Paulson’s predictably electrifying work here matched (and then some) by relative newcomer Allen. By the time the deeply satisfying climax rolls around, Run. has undoubtedly cemented its place as a top-tier thriller that stands head and shoulders above much of its similarly-themed brethren.

***1/2 out of ****