Netflix’s Don’t Move can be seen as its horror equivalent to Crank, featuring a notable actress from Yellowstone. It’s available for streaming now, so let’s dive into what makes it noteworthy.
Over the last decade, Netflix has created some of the most remarkable horror films and series. Titles like Creep and Creep 2 have been lauded as exceptional entries in the found-footage genre, while The Ritual is known for showcasing one of the most terrifying movie monsters ever created. Additionally, The Haunting of Hill House stands out as a prime example of Mike Flanagan’s brilliance on the platform, complete with an unforgettable jump scare.
As Halloween approaches this weekend, many of you might find yourselves endlessly scrolling through Netflix’s film catalog trying to discover the perfect movie to watch. Before you know it, the night might disappear without you pressing play on anything.
But you can relax, as Netflix has simplified your decision with Don’t Move, a freshly released horror film produced by Sam Raimi. Let’s get into the details.
What is Don’t Move about?
According to Netflix, the plot follows “a grieving woman searching for peace in an isolated forest, who encounters a stranger that injects her with a paralytic substance. As her body slowly succumbs to the effects of the drug, she must run, hide, and fight to survive before her nervous system completely shuts down.”
Co-director Brian Netto described the film as “a tale of a woman who finds herself in dire circumstances, experiencing a significant low.” He elaborated, saying, “Suddenly, she is afflicted by a paralytic agent, leading to a life-or-death struggle.”
This premise presents a marked contrast to Crank, where Jason Statham’s character must maintain high adrenaline levels to keep his heart functioning.
Raimi, who is renowned for his work on the Evil Dead series and the original Spider-Man films, referred to the script as “a relentless page-turner… it provides a compelling experience, especially within the suspense genre.”
He added, “The actors needed to remain motionless for extended periods, which worried me; I feared the audience might lose interest. However, the directors skillfully crafted it to build escalating tension.”
Who’s in the cast of Don’t Move?
Kelsey Asbille, recognized for her role as Monica Dutton in Yellowstone, leads the cast of Don’t Move. She shares the screen with Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story), Moray Treadwell (The Witcher: Blood Origin), and Daniel Francis (Bridgerton).
The film posed a unique challenge for Asbille: with her character’s body failing her and no dialogue to express her plight, how does she convey emotion?
“I had to rely heavily on [Netto and Schindler], especially regarding the representation of paralysis and what translates on-screen,” she articulated.
“The script outlines the phases of paralysis, but there’s an emotional journey and internal conflict that must come through, even with limited physical expression. That was the hurdle, and we had a great time working through it,” she continued.
Witrock commended Asbille for her talent in “communicating” her character’s struggles with minimal movement, stating, “Kelsey faced an extraordinary challenge, needing to convey so much with limited physical expression, which is typically our primary means of communication.”
Is Don’t Move worth your time?
While Don’t Move currently lacks a Rotten Tomatoes score, it has garnered mixed reviews.
The Guardian offered a three-star review, noting that while it “doesn’t fully land… the journey is filled with enough heart-pounding moments to stand out from the usual genre fare on Netflix.”
Variety commended Asbille’s performance, suggesting that her ability to forge a strong connection with the audience would have made it a thrilling experience to watch it in a packed theater, where attendees often react vocally to the film.
Collider remarked that the film possesses an “uneasy premise and commendable performances but is lacking in thrill… the horror factors fall short, except for a few startling scenes of violence.”
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