Review: ‘Run’ on Hulu

Hulu is back again with another mom who has Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a mental disorder and a form of abuse where the primary caregiver, usually a mother, fakes illness or injuries to control a person under their care. “The Act” starring Joey King, a Hulu original, was the streaming network’s first film on this topic, and director Aneesh Chaganty’s “Run” became the most streamed movie on Hulu during its opening weekend of Nov. 20.

The film stars “American Horror Story” actress Sarah Paulson as an overprotective mother named Diane who dotes on her teenage daughter Chloe played by Kiera Allen. Chloe was born with many health problems such as arrhythmia, hemochromatosis, asthma, diabetes, and paralysis. Allen fits the role naturally as she is disabled and has used a wheelchair for the last six years.

17-year-old Chloe has no electronics other than a family desktop that she can only use under adult supervision, so her relationship with her mom seems close because she does not have much else to do. Her mom gives Chloe her meds such as lidocaine and her inhaler for asthma, taking care of her consistently until Chloe gets curious after a weird encounter with her mother. When Chloe retrieves her pill bottle out of the cabinet she discovers her mother’s name, rather than her own. This incident starts Chloe into a downward spiral as she begins to question everything her mother has ever told her.

Breaking the rules for one of the first times in her life, in the middle of the night Chloe goes downstairs to Google what lidocaine is, but the wifi is out. In the background of the shot her mother sits ominously in the dark kitchen, only to pretend like it never happened in the morning.

The movie takes a different turn quickly. It goes from a sweet family story to a thriller in a very Stephen King style. “Run” is Chagenty’s second movie following his missing person thriller “Searching,” which was received well by critics and fans alike. Chagenty continues to build a name for himself, developing his own style of thrillers.

Emma McElhannon

Emma McElhannon was the Variety Editor for the BluePrints staff. They aspire to own their own bakery in the future.

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