The realm of cinema is replete with examples of films that force hidden emotions to surface and take the audience on a rollercoaster ride of suspense, apprehension, hope, and despair, all at the same time. Run Rabbit Run, helmed by the persevering Daina Reid, is no exception and falls seamlessly into the category of an unsettling thriller.
The screenplay, by Hannah Kent, is smart and packed with sublime suspense. The story moves at an engaging pace, gradually unfolding and drawing the audience intot the film with its intriguing themes of fertility, motherhood, and the paradox of life and death. The cleverly concealed metaphors scattered throughout the script contribute to the film’s subtle yet climactic build-up, never allowing the tension to dissipate.
Directed by the Australian powerhouse, Daina Reid, well-known for her immaculate artistic craftmanship and directorial ventures such as The Handmaid’s Tale, Run Rabbit Run, with Sarah Snook’s brilliance in acting, is a psychological thriller that leaves audiences incessantly questioning the boundaries of their own sanity.
Sarah Snook plays fertility specialist Sarah in the Australian horror film, whose daughter Mia (Lily LaTorre) starts acting very strangely after a stray rabbit inexplicably shows up at their house. Mia begins to assert that Sarah’s long-lost sister Alice (Sunny Whelan), who vanished when Mia was just seven years old, is truly her (Mia).
Snook showcases her versatility as an actress, moving beyond her well-known role as Shiv Roy in the popular series Succession. In this new project, she brings a maternal warmth and sense of responsibility to her character. Unseen before, Snook displays attentiveness and affection, but her calm and composed demeanor quickly crumbles when faced with uncertainty and stress. The connection between Snook’s character and LaTorre’s Mia is deeply heartfelt, evident right from the first scene where the mother lovingly wakes her daughter up with a special birthday gift.
A striking feature of the film is the bold examination of Sigmund Freud’s psychological theories. Sarah’s recurring nightmares are eerily reminiscent of Freud’s theory of the unconscious mind where latent desires manifest themselves in dreams. It also incorporates elements from Carl Jung’s theoretical frameworks in symbols as it is depicted with boxes in dark room as shadows or human dark side and Sarah’s avoidance to delve into the past. Moreover, the rabbit appearance in different spots of the place we know as “Home” in the film, reminds us of the Sarah’s quest for innocence and rebirth. The rabbit might represent purity, but Sarah follows it through a nightmare version of Alice in Wonderland.
The film excels in highlighting the unwavering loyalty, sense of sacrifice, and the quiet resilience inherent in the bond of sisterhood. It underscores that sisterhood is not always about shared laughter and fond memories; sometimes, it is about fighting together in the ceaseless storm of life.
Regarding all these points, the film bears its own lacks. One of the most significant flaws that is evident from the onset, is the strained and somewhat contrived plot. It becomes increasingly clear throughout the story that the cause-effect relationship between many incidences are forced. The credible linearity that is expected from a high-concept film like Run Rabbit Run is widely missed. Storytelling is an art form that should excude spontaneity. Still, Diana Raid’s direction fails to maintain the smooth flow that organically roots the audience into the narrative.
Raid’s use of symbolism in Run Rabbit Run often comes off as heavy-handed and overbearing. The metaphorical elements are force-fed to the audience, leaving little room for personal interpretation. The basis of symbolism lies in subtlety, something quite missed in Raid’s directorial approach. This lack of subtlety ends up distancing the audience instead of drawing them into the film, thus working against the film.
With 8.4 million views and a spot in the top 10 most watched movies in 27 different countries, Run Rabbit Run has been one of the major Netflix hits during the past weeks.
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