A Claustrophobic, Nail-Biting Ride That’s Winning Over Viewers
Horror and suspense are having a moment on Hulu, and right now, one title is slicing through the noise—Sarah Paulson’s Run. Sitting in Hulu’s Top 10 Movies list in the U.S., Aneesh Chaganty’s 2020 psychological thriller is gaining renewed attention thanks to its chilling atmosphere, standout performances, and a timely resurgence of interest in horror stories centered around familial trauma.
Though not a brand-new release, Run has found a second life on the platform, joining other genre gems that rely more on tension and acting than jump scares and gore.
Here’s why Sarah Paulson’s Run is worth your time, especially if you’re drawn to smart thrillers that unravel their secrets one unsettling clue at a time.
The Premise: A Mother’s Love Turns Sinister
Set largely in one location, Run introduces viewers to Diane Sherman (Sarah Paulson), a single mother raising her daughter Chloe (Kiera Allen), a teenager with several chronic health conditions. Diane appears devoted—overly so—to Chloe’s wellbeing. She cooks for her, administers medications, and home-schools her with a level of control that borders on obsessive.
But when Chloe begins to question the pills her mother gives her and starts digging deeper into her past, a horrifying truth surfaces. It’s not just the walls of their home that are closing in—it’s Diane herself, and the suffocating grip of her twisted love.
Sarah Paulson’s Run takes its time building tension. The terror here is quiet at first—rooted in routine, in isolation, in the things not said. But as the movie progresses, every frame becomes more claustrophobic, and every gesture from Diane begins to feel like a threat.
Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen: A Perfectly Matched Duel
One of the key reasons Run works so well is the electrifying dynamic between its leads. Sarah Paulson’s Runperformance is chilling, layered, and completely immersive.
Known for her intense roles in American Horror Story and Ratched, Paulson brings a quiet menace to Diane—equal parts nurturing and controlling, kind yet manipulative.
Her transformation from loving mother to sinister captor is gradual but unnerving.
Kiera Allen, in her film debut, is equally compelling.
As Chloe, she portrays vulnerability and defiance in equal measure. Allen, who uses a wheelchair in real life, brings authenticity to the role, making Chloe’s moments of physical struggle feel painfully real. The physical and emotional endurance Allen shows on screen makes her not just a victim, but a resilient fighter in her own right.
Together, Paulson and Allen turn Run into a psychological battle, one that relies heavily on facial expressions, body language, and slow-burning tension.
Aneesh Chaganty’s Direction Keeps You Guessing
Chaganty, who made waves with his inventive 2018 thriller Searching, proves again that he understands how to turn ordinary domestic settings into arenas of terror. His direction in Sarah Paulson’s Run is focused, minimal, and smartly paced. There’s no filler—every scene either builds suspense or deepens the characters.
The film may feel predictable to seasoned thriller fans, but it’s the execution—not the twists—that makes Run gripping. Chaganty plays with silence, stillness, and narrow spaces to emphasize Chloe’s vulnerability. The house becomes a character of its own, turning from safe haven to prison before our eyes.
Themes of Control, Abuse, and the Illusion of Safety
Beyond the thrills, Sarah Paulson’s Run explores darker psychological themes. It’s a story about Munchausen syndrome by proxy, about how trust can be weaponized, and how even the most sacred relationships can become terrifying prisons. It challenges the romanticized notion of maternal sacrifice and instead asks: what happens when that love becomes possession?
Run is as much about trauma as it is about survival. It’s about how far someone will go to regain their agency when it’s been stolen by someone they’re supposed to trust unconditionally.
Conclusion: A Must-Watch for Fans of Smart, Intense Thrillers
With Run climbing the Hulu charts, now is the perfect time to experience the anxiety-ridden brilliance of Sarah Paulson’s Run. It’s a stripped-down but high-stakes thriller, anchored by exceptional performances and built on a foundation of dread. If you enjoy slow-burn suspense with psychological depth, Run should be your next watch.
