Don’t Move is a spectacular new thriller produced by Sam Raimi starring Kelsey Asbille and Finn Wittrock. The film utilizes an extremely lean cast and a beautiful setting within a densely wooded area to create something unique and spectacular with just a few resources. As a result, this horror film maintains a consistent tension that continues to build and expand until the film’s final moments.

Director Brian Netto , Adam Schindler Release Date October 25, 2024 Writers T.J. Cimfel , David White Cast Kelsey Asbille , Finn Wittrock , Daniel Francis , Moray Treadwell , Denis Kostadinov , Kate Nichols , Skye Little Wing Dimov Saw , Dylan Beam Character(s) Iris , Richard , Dontrell , Bill , Mateo , Young Mom , Boy , Daughter Runtime 92 Minutes Expand

Don’t Move sees a grief-stricken woman, Kelsey Asbille, meet a seemingly kind stranger, who quickly reveals their dark secret. Finn Wittrock plays a serial killer who injects the woman with a paralytic. The rest of the film sees the pair play cat and mouse as the woman races against time and her quickly failing body to survive.

Don’t Move Does So Much With So Little

While many horror movies can operate on a shoestring budget, Don’t Move makes itself feel more expansive and grandiose than the sum of its parts. Thanks to the sprawling setting and natural landscapes filled with beautiful mountains, lakes, and forests, there is an openness to the movie. However, contrasting with that same wide open space, the story follows a woman who slowly becomes trapped inside her own body.

Don’t Move
makes itself feel more expansive and grandiose than the sum of its parts.

Add to this the incredible performances of Finn Wittrock and Kelsey Asbille, and it becomes very clear why and how this movie succeeds in creating tension, drama, and genuine horror. Wittrock previously starred in American Horror Story season 4, and returned a handful of times in later seasons. He flexes those horror muscles here with a spectacular performance as a charming serial killer who balances his facade as a gentleman with a darker side. Wittrock is chilling and perfect for a film that only has two fleshed-out parts.

On the other hand, Kelsey stands out for her ability to convey so much emotion, terror, and courage through the smallest detail, such as a look or tapping her fingers. The duo excels in their roles and without either person, this movie would not be anywhere close to as exciting and engaging as it is. In addition, the direction from the directing duo Brian Netto and Adam Schindler makes the finished product visually stunning and tense throughout.

Don’t Move’s Simplicity Is What Makes It Great & Where It Falls Down

Don’t Move is built on a simple premise and a singular setting. This allows the actors to shine and highlight the intensity of this one terrifying moment in a woman’s life in real time. However, the simple concept also leads to a lack of overall development. Despite the horror thriller movie’s economic approach, it feels like part of a larger story that doesn’t get as much focus.

Kelsey stands out for her ability to convey so much emotion, terror, and courage through the smallest detail, such as a look or tapping her fingers.

Yes, some beats truly work in the story, and it is not an hour and a half of a woman crawling through a forest as a killer stalks her, but it does feel like the entire story could have been condensed to work as a short film. That is not to say the tension is not present throughout Don’t Move, or the story ever drags, but the premise itself feels like only one act of a story that could’ve been expanded upon. Don’t Move captures the harrowing ending in a captivating third act, except that high-tension ending occupies the entire film’s runtime.

Don’t Move is now available to stream on Netflix. The film is 92 minutes long and rated R for some strong violence and language.

7/10 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​.ProsBoth Finn and Kelsey excel within their roles in the film.While the movie only has a handful of actors and one setting, it feels expansive. ConsThe film ultimately takes one concept and expands it over 92 minutes.