Starring Sarah Snook, Lily LaTorre, Damon Herriman, and Greta Scacchi, written by Hannah Kent, and directed by Daina Redid.
Run Rabbit Run (2023) kept me on my toes while simultaneously giving me a creepy, crawly feeling deep in my stomach.
The Plot
I dove into the film not knowing much about the plot or genre. I would not have guessed that it would be as psychologically and emotionally thrilling as it was. But since I saw the film at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, I had a feeling I was going to enjoy watching this story unfold.
The plot follows a mother (Sarah Snook) and daughter (Lily LaTorre) as their relationship is tested and strained in increasingly supernatural ways. Even though there are unknown ghost elements to the plot, the characters are rooted in real life. The unseen elements come into play in the invisible aspects of life after death, giving space for questions and suspense. The ambiguity of it all makes it more eerie. That being said, there are some beautifully directed shots in this genre-bending film.
Trauma is introduced broadly, then released untethered to unfold as it pleases. I enjoyed the use of mirrors as it puts focus on Sarah’s perception of herself, what she is clinging to from the past, and presents the question: can she escape who she once was/still is? The characters are realized people and not half baked.
Down to the Details
One particular sound of a slamming shed door made me shutter. It was powerful. Instead of adding background music to add tension, the physical shutting of the door made the most effective impact, giving a greater sense of play.
The careful color choices of the clothing also stood out to me and helped me theorize the backbone of the story and characters. How much is rational? Where is the line drawn between actual life and dream/nightmare? How many are too many coincidences to believe they are coincidences and nothing more?
I left this film wondering if everything had a logical explanation after all. The ending leaves it up to you to decide, even though some definitive information is revealed.
Some Extra Notes
In a Q&A following the film, the team spoke about selecting a Casting Director (Allison Meadows) whom they have worked with before. They described Meadows as “fearless” and credited her with finding great “first-timers” who had never acted professionally before. Filming was originally scheduled to start before Covid, but was pushed back for obvious reasons. However, this ended up working out for the better since Lily (who played Mia) grew up, which enabled her to work more hours on set.
The producers also mentioned how they don’t use a formula when looking for a script to produce. But instead, they look for ideas and creatives that excite them, ones they feel the drive to get behind and fight for.
My Rating: 7/10
I enjoyed how this film implored me to think about ideas I am not usually drawn to. The unsettling nature of the tone kept me searching for answers. While the story of Sarah and Mia captivated me, some parts of the plot needed more fleshing out. For instance, Sarah’s job is included in a beginning scene but never really mentioned again.
Overall, I liked the exploration of the afterlife, using both the rational and surreal mind, eventually uncovering that there may be some overlaps. Much like the Apple TV+ series, Servant (2019-2023), Run Rabbit Run doesn’t present a lot of comforting ground to walk on. The tone makes everything feel up in the air and uneasy, like the opposite of a comforting hug. This includes cuts oozing, nose bleeds, and head bumps along the way.
As far as the ending, I wonder how much is supposed to be taking place in Sarah’s head instead of real life. In this respect, it’s open-ended, much like the rest of the film. How much did Sarah imagine in confronting her grief and what was physically in front of her?
In a Q&A following the film, the team brought up how the bunny is a personification. However, I didn’t quite catch this. While I understood that the bunny’s actions hinted at where the story was headed, some of the personification got lost in the script and did not make it on screen.
Best Lines
“But you’ve never met her.” “I miss people I’ve never met all the time.”
Sentence Summary
When Sarah’s daughter, Mia, sees herself in a little girl from old photographs, their lives and relationship are changed forever.
Where can I watch it?
The film was viewed during a midnight screening at Sundance Film Festival. It appears that it will be available to watch on Netflix in the coming months.
Special note: I watched this film online through Sundance Film Festival. Before the film started, the director briefly spoke to introduce the film. This made the screening feel more personal and like I was attending in person. I enjoyed the little details Sundance put into making the online festival so inviting.
Aloha Arianna 