Run Elisa Run
Run Elisa Run
Directed by Thomas Scott | Review by Nabadipa Talukder
Every now and then, here comes a moment when we feel vulnerable, we feel insecure, unprotected, almost as if the next step will be the end of us. We learn about fear from a very tender age. We are asked to relate accidents with fear, shadows with the paranormal, eerie footsteps with danger. How often do we choose to face our fears? How often do we decide to view things with a perspective not programmed to perceive? How often are we true to ourselves? Cognitive theories have elaborately explained how we learn to adapt and change according to what is asked of us. With a killer on the loose, our first instincts would be to be safe in our homes. A home that provides the basic aspect of a safe surrounding. Perhaps, this feeling of uncertainty is what Thomas Scott planned to bring out through his film “RUN ELISA RUN”. It brings in the concept of “danger” within us and how it boosts the adrenaline hormone to fight the danger or run away from it.
A suburban night and a passenger returning home. Home, protection—aren’t they synonymous? The protagonist Elisa, played by Lulu Miller, portrays a middle-aged woman who leaves the train station unaware of what might follow her through the night. We see how the director has infused two parallel stories into one - one where the protagonist could be the prey and the other whether the protagonist has managed to stir of a stimulus unto another leading to provocation. The film almost provides a filmmaker-to-audience interaction that is unique and should not go unappreciated. Human instincts always heighten when exposed to unwanted activity. We choose to follow a previous experience and act accordingly. The protagonist in this film does the same. She probably even has something to keep away from everyone else which explains her fear. Guilty consciences will always double the doubt and it amplifies with an external stimulus. You feel a sense of urgency and you choose to ignore the past and act in the present. Elisa does the same. Elisa’s character lives in all of us from time to time and Thomas’s execution through his film has achieved that interplay of characteristics in a person both internal and external. . Elisa returns home with a certainty she’ll be able to conceal her previous experience. It could also be that she’s completely unaware of what just happened.
Thomas Scott did a brilliant job in bringing to light the vitality of prediction with this light thriller. With an excellent execution of the script and precise storytelling, this film’ builds up dramatically and leaves us with a legitimate question about existence and emotions. Thomas’ work shows us how it is possible to bring forward an idea through cinema with no limitation on the clock. RUN ELISA RUN urges us to consciously think about the moment we have been in fear and how to tackle such situations. It depicts the risks our lives are prone to. It gives foresight to how the world is changing with the human mind evolving into a weapon which is intangible. It defines the concept of “survival of the fittest and the smartest”. All in all, this is a good watch for a thriller, and conceptually strong. It might just help you think and act when faced with a similar situation.
Dr. Nabadipa Talukder is a doctor by profession with a passion for creative writing and has been into digital content writing for almost 5 years now. She practiced as a dental professional for two years in Kolkata before she quit her job in order to pursue a career in writing. Nabadipa was exposed to the freedom to write for various fronts which opened up her mind and introduced her to the world of screenplay and script writing. She wishes to travel and understand various cultures and wishes to write their stories.
