Run Rabbit Run (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)

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Film Summary

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With the recent death of her father, Sarah has lost a notable member of her family, and his absence is felt. She now has become aware of all her father did for her estranged mom, Joan, and now finds herself forced to deal with, and on top of that, Sarah’s daughter Mia, based on how Mia’s school feels, isn’t adjusting well to losing her grandfather.

Now, this is understandable since Sarah seemed to be close to her father and made him part of Mia’s routine. However, beyond Mia having anxiety and now drawing disturbing pictures, she has now taken on the name Alice. This is disturbing since this is Sarah’s sister’s name, who went missing around the same age Mia is. Add in Sarah doesn’t talk about Alice and it makes this all the more curious, and as time passes, disturbing as Mia refuses to let go that she is Alice, and as she meets Joan for the first time, and Sarah’s family home, she says and does things which dredge up family secrets and Sarah’s pain.

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Sarah

Sarah is a single mom, though Mia’s father is in her life, dealing with the recent loss of her father, now being responsible for her estranged mother, and harboring a secret dealing with her sister Alice.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Soulmates” and their role in “The Glass Castle.”

Mia

Mia is a seven-year-old girl whose birthday recently passed, and despite never meeting her maternal grandmother or aunt, she suddenly starts asking about them.

Joan

Joan is Sarah’s mother, who currently is in a home due to having dementia.

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Highlights

Lily Latorre as Mia

While finding a child who can play a creepy character isn’t hard, since many children have a creep factor to them unwittingly, Latorre notably plays Mia in a psychological horror way. She isn’t donned with creepy makeup or as Mia, or Alice, intentionally trying to be creepy. She is a manifestation of Sarah’s guilt and secrets haunting her. So with every nosebleed or gash, you can see something Sarah isn’t trying to remember, and the way Latorre pushes Snook, she makes the role far more than her being an established actor’s daughter.

How The Truth About Alice Unravels

What will keep you going, even as “Run Rabbit Run” begs to become background noise, is the truth about Alice. At this point, it seems clear that Alice’s ghost must be possessing Mia because she doesn’t want to be forgotten. Joan has dementia, Alice’s father is gone, and Sarah refuses to talk about her and hides her pictures. With this, you’re led to believe Alice isn’t an evil or vengeful spirit but one who simply fears being lost in time.

However, as time goes on, it becomes less of a ghost in Sarah’s past and more something she feels guilty about. Now, why is the big question, for what could she, when Alice was seven and her likely not much older, could have done? Alice was reportedly lost in the woods, so was this a game of hide and seek gone wrong? They are in Australia, so did something attack Alice and Sarah just watched and didn’t help, and she lied about what happened to not get in trouble?

So many questions regarding Alice’s disappearance come up, and when all is revealed, everything makes sense.

On The Fence

While There Are Notable Performances and Stirring Music, This Isn’t That Engaging

“Run Rabbit Run” makes no real effort to exceed expectations and stand out. Yes, the quality of performances are good, the music and even the creep factor Mia contributes. However, the combination doesn’t keep the film from being dry.

While the performances are good, there isn’t necessarily a hook. Sarah’s trauma, Mia becoming this creepy manifestation of Sarah’s sister? It is good for the story but doesn’t create entertainment value. The same goes for the horror element or mystery. The horror element is light and mystery? It’s good enough to keep the story going, but as much as, early on, you may want to ask a bunch of questions about what happened to Alice due to the film not presenting theories and making it seem Alice simply got lost and was never found, you aren’t pushed to put on a detective’s hat. You are just given what the actors believe is a standard for themselves, an okay story, and the bells and whistles that could and should add something are brass and flimsy.

General Information

Director(s)	Daina Reid
Screenplay By	Hannah Kent
Based On	N/A
Date Released (Netflix)	June 28, 2023
Genre(s)	Drama, Horror
Film Length	1 Hour 40 Minutes
Content Rating	Rated TV-MA
Noted Characters and Cast
Sarah	Sarah Snook
Mia	Lily Latorre
Joan	Greta Scacchi

Recommendations

If you like this movie, we recommend:

1. There’s Something Wrong With The Kids (2023): If you want more quality performances from kids playing creepy characters
2. Last Night In Soho (2021): A drama with horror elements
3. The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023): Contains a combination of a dramatic story, dealing with grief and some form of guilt, with a creepy child

Also, check our movies page for more recommendations and our latest movie reviews.

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