Brian Netto (Delivery: The Beast Within) and Adam Schindler (Intruders) co-direct this psychological horror thriller about Richard (Finn Wittrock), a serial killer who injects a paralytic agent into his next victim, Iris (Kelsey Asbille), a mother who lost her child. She’s forced to run, fight, or hide before her body shuts down.
It’s a slick little yarn penned by co-screenwriters T.J. Cimfel and David White (Intruders)—a lean story with only two main players and a clever set-up with some surprising twists and turns considering its simplistic framing. After injection, Iris has 20 minutes before paralysis sets in, which will last an hour. Near suicidal over the accidental death of her young son, she discovers she’s still got some fight in her.
Both Asbille and Wittrock are up to the challenge of appearing in nearly every scene, and Richard makes for a compelling villain, in turns charming and chilling, sympathetic and repulsive. I was rooting for Iris to beat this asshole, but he’s a seasoned and crafty killer with tricks up his sleeve.
It earns its R rating mainly for graphic violence, but its strength is Iris’ psychological terror. Imagine being immobile and at the mercy of a monster. (92-min.)
—Glen Starkey
This article appears in Nov 7-17, 2024.