As someone who has battled with depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I found “Don’t Move” to be a challenging watch, not because of its horror elements, but due to its portrayal of a deeply troubled young woman’s struggle for survival. The concept is undeniably intriguing – a woman on the brink of suicide is saved from death only to become a captive of a serial killer. However, the execution feels contrived and exploitative, which is disappointing.
Consider a chilling hypothetical scenario, one that might be conceived by a master of horror: Suppose a tormented young woman (Kelsey Asbille) was on the verge of jumping from a precipice. At that critical moment, a serial killer (Finn Whitrock) intervenes, preventing her leap and instead abducting her for some heinous intention. Would this fiend’s actions still be considered murder, or given that the victim had already contemplated suicide, is there another term less severe to describe it?
In the unassuming Netflix film “Don’t Move,” an implausible predicament unfolds and multiplies. After regaining awareness, the captive woman learns that her abductor has given her a peculiar drug, which will soon cause her to lose control. As soon as it takes effect, the drug will take approximately 20 minutes to render Iris completely immobile. Can you imagine what you would do in such a dire predicament?
The main idea here is to watch a woman, on the brink of suicide, find the strength to live. However, Iris’ storyline seems too formulaic, making it seem disrespectful to those who genuinely struggle with such thoughts. Despite this, it can be engaging at times as Iris tries to regain her mobility, yet nothing about it feels authentic. It might be best to view it as a trial run from some young filmmakers borrowing favors, and pay attention to its unexpected moments. Notably, Ted Sarandos’ daughter is one of the producers (“Don’t Move”).
In addition to other recognized names, Sam Raimi is also featured among the credits. Directors Adam Schindler and Brian Netto oversaw the Minnesota segments for Quibi’s series “50 States of Fright” that was directed by Sam Raimi. The film, titled “Don’t Move,” seems like another production conceived during the pandemic with a limited crew. However, the limitations faced in execution pale in comparison to those experienced by lead actor Asbille, who spends nearly half the movie unable to move.
Despite the “Yellowstone” character being restricted to only using her eyes and a slight movement of her index finger, we still feel like we’re experiencing these moments together. In one instance, she’s saved for a while by a kindly hermit (Moray Treadwell), and learns to convey messages by blinking her eyelids. However, in a panicked situation when Whitrock’s character appears (he is eventually credited as “Richard,” but introduces himself with different names depending on who he’s speaking to), she sends out an SOS signal. In both this scene and a later one with a police officer (Daniel Francis), the silent woman is often overshadowed by her manipulator.
The bond we share with Iris is so profound at times, it’s disappointing that the movie can only be streamed, as it would be thrilling to watch it in a cinema filled with an audience who might cheer when a character in peril doesn’t make the right move. In this context, the title seems like a misleading instruction since Iris is immobile, but if she could, she would certainly act differently. This results in a sense of powerlessness that intensifies the suspense, as we wait for Iris’s tormentor to slip up, until her limbs regain their function once more.
The predicament you describe reminds me of a key scene in Robert Zemeckis’ Hitchcock-esque ghost story, “What Lies Beneath,” where Michelle Pfeiffer’s character is awake but unable to act as a bathtub fills with water. This level of suspense seems absent in “Don’t Move,” even in its most intense moment when Iris must draw the attention of her potential killer before a fire consumes her. Is this intense fear enough to alleviate her suicidal thoughts? Or, looking at it from another angle, could Whitrock not be a real presence at all, but rather a manifestation of Iris’ grief and trauma that she needs to overcome in order to heal and move forward?
“Don’t Move” is now streaming on Netflix.
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2024-10-25 11:17