Run

But, Run is also a trailblazer in terms of representation. It would have been so easy just to find a pretty young actress, stick her in a wheelchair and then let Paulson chew on the scenery for an hour and a half. But they not only found someone who could match Ms. Paulson, but they also found someone who actually needs a wheelchair. The filmmakers were dedicated enough to find someone who is actually differently-abled.

It might not seem like a big deal, but most differently-abled characters are played by people who aren’t. As such, they tend to fall into certain cliches or traps with their performance. (I’m looking at you, Daredevil). But because this is actually her reality, Ms. Allen brings talent and authenticity to her performance.

“…could have been an exploitive mess, but the filmmakers and cast created a real sense of tension grounded in reality…”

It almost makes up for the filmmakers indulging in the “mental illness = monster trope.” After all, it is a tired cliche that takes away from the progress they made in representation. In light of certain high profile cases in the past few years that show how horrible Muchausan by proxy really is, I suppose they can be given some slack. 

This was horrifying. The idea that the person you trust the most could be harming you is something that, I believe, would terrify anyone. In far less capable hands, this could have been an exploitive mess, but the filmmakers and cast created a real sense of tension grounded in reality. I give Run my highest recommendation.