Run – Review and Summary
Run takes a compelling story regarding a young woman with an ideal man, who questions whether the fantasy is real, and adds an alien invasion to it.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Run” Film Details
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 35 Minutes
- Released On: In Theaters
- Public Release Date: August 29, 2025
- Director(s): Chris Stokes
- Writer(s): Marques Houston, Chris Stokes
- Primary Language: English
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Rating: Rated PG-13
- Distributor: Footage Films Studios
- Official Site Link
Movie Summary
Melissa and Andre were due to be married, but thanks to getting cold feet, the wedding didn’t happen. This leads Melissa to, with her girlfriends, have a girls’ trip, and as that is being planned, Melissa’s best friend, and Andre’s cousin, Jennifer, plots with her partner to get the two back together. But, with an alien invasion happening at the same time, whether or not Melissa and Andre may have their happy ending, or just face the end of civilization and their lives, is anyone’s guess.
Cast and Characters
Melissa (Annie Ngosi Ilonzeh)
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Andre (Marques Houston)
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Jennifer (Claudia Jordan)
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What To Expect In “Run” (Rated PG-13) – Content Overview
- Violence:
- Gun Violence: A Gun Goes Off Once Or Twice
- Gore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Bleeding
- Miscellaneous:
- Drinking: Yes
- Smoking: Yes
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
The Runaway Bride Story [82/100]
Run is a torn between two distinct stories, with two distinct tones. Of the two, the runaway bride story is the stronger one as you see Melissa wrestle with the idea of becoming a wife, what that means, and the challenge of having a good man, but things seem too perfect. The setup is wonderful, and the way you see it could have played out, especially with Melissa’s friend group, could have led to notable drama, good speeches, and perhaps something better than what Run ultimately delivers.
On The Fence
The Sci-Fi Element [74/100]
I feel the sci-fi element was mishandled. I get that having aliens invade helps show growth and change regarding the Stokes/Houston brand, as they have mainly done dramatic movies, either with action or romance elements. It should also be noted that it is rare to see a predominantly Black cast in anything regarding sci-fi, never mind having a theatrical rollout.
However, I wouldn’t say the issues in Andre and Mellisa’s relationship meld well with aliens invading the world and committing genocide. It’s treated as a pendulum swing as we go from Jennifer calling her man, talking about ways to get Andre and Melissa to talk, to this alien that looks inspired by the monster from The Shape of Water appearing, and Mellisa yelling out the movie’s title.
It sometimes feels jarring, and it often makes it so neither side gets the space, time, and energy needed to excel.
Lack Of Investment In Who Lives Or Dies [71/100]
But, perhaps the bigger issue here is, you don’t get enough of Melissa and Andre’s relationship, never mind most of the characters, to ultimately care if they live or die. A lot of them don’t go beyond recognizable faces or names, and so, when aliens snatch heads off, you find yourself more saddened by not seeing this reality star, actor, or musician you enjoy than caring that a person on screen just lost their life – usually in a violent way.
Overall
Our Rating (75/100): Mixed (Divisive)
Run is not bad, but I don’t know if, by 2025 standards, it is worth going to the theater to see. You know, within 45 to 60 days, it is going to be on Tubi or another platform, likely for more than half the price. So you can still support what is an interesting step for Stokes and Houston, without really coming out of pocket.
Honestly, while this isn’t the worst film to come from their combination, it is far from their best, and as much as you have to applaud them for exploring other genres, in the future, I don’t think they can, or should do half and half. Either they have to be all in with the tried and true or really explore telling a sci-fi story and not just hitch it onto what they usually produce.
Video Text
- Intro Slide
- Summary: Melissa and Andre were due to get married, but at the last minute, due to a fight the previous night, Melissa got cold feet.
- Summary: While initially upset, her friends decide a girls’ trip is just what she needs, with one planning to try to use the time away from everything to get Melissa and Andre to reconcile.
- Summary: However, no sooner than the ladies get settled, start drinking, and one friend is calling Andre to come to the remote cabin, aliens invade the world.
- Summary: Thus, switching Run from about a runaway bride contemplating her next chapter, to a sci-fi film about killer aliens, and this group who don’t seem to have a chance against them.
- Review: From the beginning to the first quarter of Run, as the focus is on Melissa and Andre’s relationship, and the group that supports them, things are good.
- Review: At that point, you can see Houston and Stokes are in their comfort zone regarding relationships and how dramatic they can be.
- Review: But once the aliens are introduced, I wouldn’t say things get better at all, since the inclusion is notably jarring – mainly because the romantic drama and sci-fi don’t mesh well.
- Review: Then, to make things worse, the shift to the aliens immediately puts a stop to getting to know characters, their relationships, and this makes who lives or dies negligible.
- Review: Leaving it so, outside of how potentially absurd you may find some moments, Run loses its hook early on and doesn’t find a real replacement.
- Overall (75/100): While it is applaudable for Stokes/Houston to explore a different genre, it doesn’t pan out well and makes it feel like a Tubi movie somehow ended up in theaters.
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