Hi movie friends, Netflix has once again hooked us with a heart-pounding survival thriller—Don’t Move! Released on October 25, 2024, this 93-minute film is produced by Sam Raimi (of Spider-Man, Evil Dead fame) and stars Kelsey Asbill and Finn Wittrock. A serial killer, a paralytic drug, a 20-minute life-or-death race—this concept reminds us of our hit Telugu thrillers, doesn’t it? Are you in the mood to watch this movie while sitting at home in Hyderabad, preparing a plate of biryani? However, let’s see how this thriller is and why it will connect with Telugu fans in a spicy review!
Story: Heart Attack Tension
The story of Don't Move begins with the life of a woman named Iris (Kelsey Asbill). After losing her son Mateo in a hiking accident, she goes to a cliff in the California woods to commit suicide. There, a stranger named Richard (Finn Wittrock) comforts her and advises her to live. But, the twist is—Richard is a psychotic serial killer! He taunts Iris and injects her with a paralytic drug that completely immobilizes her body in 20 minutes. From here, Iris's survival fight begins—she must run, hide, and fight, unable to move her arms or legs. Falling into a river, helping a hermit, escaping a fire—this race is heart-stopping in every scene. Will Iris survive? Will she face Richard? The climax of the film is.
Performance: Kelsey's emotional punch
Kelsey Asbil carries the film on her shoulders as Iris. She beautifully portrays the journey of a mother going from the trauma of losing her son, suicidal thoughts to survival instincts, with her eyes and small expressions. In one scene, the scene where she blinks and gives an SOS signal with tears reminds us of the sentiment in our Telugu dramas. Her arc from struggle and despair to fightback mode is heart-wrenching.
Finn Wittrock gives a creepy, manipulative vibe as Richard well, but the lack of backstory to his character is a minus. Although he seems like a smart killer, his stupid decisions in some scenes (Iris' knife, not checking the iWatch) are laughable. In the supporting cast, Morey Treadwell (Hermit) is good in a small role, but overall the film relies on Kelsey alone.
Strengths: Emotional connect, tight runtime
Don’t Move makes perfect use of its 93-minute runtime as a contained thriller. The film feels almost real-time, immersing us in Iris’s race for survival. Jack Cooperstein’s cinematography and the visuals of the Bulgarian forests give the film a gritty, realistic vibe. The river sequence and fire escape scenes in particular are as heart-wrenching as I saw them at PVR in Vijayawada.
Iris’ emotional journey—going from the grief of losing her son to the fight to survive—gives the film its heart. This sentiment reminds us of emotional dramas like Amma in our Telugu movies. Sam Raimi's touch gives the movie a trusted horror-thriller vibe, his Don't Breathe feel is visible in some scenes.
Weaknesses: Logical flaws, flat ending
The movie has a few flaws. Richard's character lacks depth, his stupid mistakes (Iris's iWatch, not checking the knife) break the logic of the movie. The paralytic drug effect is also confusing—Iris doesn't move at all in one scene, and suddenly moves her hands in another. These inconsistencies bring down the immersion of the movie.
The ending is also not that impactful. Despite a 72% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 54/100 on Metacritic, critics have commented that it is a “mid-tier thriller, forgettable finish”.
Technical aspects
Directors Brian Netto and Adam Schindler (Intruders fame) direct the film in a tight, fast-paced manner, but the flaws in the script are clearly visible. Jack Cooperstein’s cinematography makes the forest visuals as rich as a Hyderabadi dum biryani. Mark Corwen’s score builds the tension, but there are some overdramatic moments. It feels a bit fake to say that the film is California, shot in Bulgaria (the license plates look European).
Conclusion: Weekend Thriller, But Forgettable Type
Don't Move stands as a decent Netflix weekend watch with its emotional connect, Kelsey Asbil's acting, and tense scenes. Iris' survival fight, motherly sentiments will connect with the Telugu audience, and this movie is a small treat for fans of thrillers like Hit and Aranyakanda. But, the logic errors and flat ending do not let the movie reach the level of top-tier thrillers like Don't Breathe. Stream in 4K on Netflix and enjoy this heart-pounding race. Share your favorite scene on X, we will watch it too!
Rating: 3/5