Warning: Spoilers for Don’t Move below!The intense new thrillerDon’t Moveis a perfect reminder to watch an acclaimed thriller that broke out on Netflix earlier in 2024. WhileDon’t Movesounds like a familiar concept on the surface - a resourceful young woman being chased by a killer in some isolated woods - the key gimmick behind it is the victim being injected with a paralytic agent that will make her body shut down within 20 minutes.Don’t Movehas received solid reviews, both for its inventive twist on the genre and its lead performances.
It doesn’t reinvent the genre in any way, but it milks a lot of tension from a simple setup and doesn’t overstay its welcome. In a refreshing turn of events,Don’t Move’sendingdoesn’t try to leave the door open for a sequel; once the killer is defeated, the story is over and Kelsey Asbille’s Iris has found the strength to move on with her life.
Don’t Move Ending: Why Iris Says “Thank You” Explained By Star, Director & Sam Raimi
Don’t Move stars Kelsey Asbille, Finn Wittrock, and producer Sam Raimi unpack the real meaning behind Iris saying “Thank you” at the end of the movie.
After Don’t Move, You Should Watch 2020 Thriller Alone
John Hyams' Alone is the perfect follow-up to Don’t Move
For those who enjoyedDon’t Move’sstripped-down premise and thrills, 2020’sAloneshould be their next watch. John Hyams wrote and directedAlone, where Jules Willcox’s Jessica is chased and captured by a serial killer named Sam (Marc Menchaca).Don’t Movealmost feels like a soft remake ofAlone, with the two sharing much in common.Don’t MovecastFinn Wittrock as Richard, who, like Sam, initially presents himself as a nice, charming guy who is soon revealed to be a monster.
BothAloneandDon’t Movefeature scenes where the lead is almost rescued by a well-meaning stranger. These sequences largely play out the same too; the stalker presents themselves as a concerned loved one trying to confuse the would-be savior before moving in for the kill.Both thrillers feature scenes where the protagonist tries to escape by floating down a riverand feature a key moment where they listen in on a phone conversation between the killer and their loving families.
The primary difference between Don’t Move is that Alone feels like a darker ride.
The heroines ofDon’t MoveandAloneare also still grieving the loss of a family member. The primary difference between the films is thatAlonejust feels like a darker ride. The violence isn’t especially graphic and the body count is actually lower thanDon’t Movebut the tone is more intense, with Menchaca’s Sam being a truly menacing figure.
Alone Was Rescued From Obscurity By Its Netflix Debut
Alone arrived in theaters during COVID times
Director John Hyams has a cult following thanks to hisUniversal Soldiersequels, butwhileAlonereceived fantastic reviews (sitting at 93% onRotten Tomatoes), it virtually sunk without a trace. The film arrived in theaters and VOD simultaneously in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic,Alone’sbox office was only $642,000 worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo). Strong word of mouth helped it spread to thriller and horror fans, but it was only when it landed on Netflix that gained some widespread recognition.
Aloneco-star Anthony Heald is best known for his role as Dr Chilton inThe Silence of the Lambs.
Alonereached the number 3 spot onNetflix’s global rankingsduring March 2024, beating out rivals likeFord v. FerrariandThe Super Mario Bros. Movie. This is an impressive feat for a low-budget thriller few had heard of, and highlighted once again that underrated movies and TV shows can get a second life on streaming. Hopefully,Don’t Move’ssuccess will giveAloneanother boost.
Don’t Move
Cast
A grieving woman must escape a serial killer in the remote forests of Big Sur after being injected with a paralytic agent. With only 20 minutes before her body shuts down, she embarks on a desperate race against time, battling fear and her fading physical strength in this tense survival horror thriller.
Alone
Alone is a thriller film released in 2020, directed by John Hyams. The movie follows Jessica, portrayed by Jules Willcox, as she escapes from the city to cope with a recent tragedy. She finds herself being pursued by a relentless predator in the pacific northwest wilderness, leading to a tense struggle for survival.
