Director: Tim McCann
Starring: Aaron Stanford, Robin Tunney, Zack Savage, Terry Kinney, Michael Gaston

- Reviewed by Vickie

One of my favorite things about film festivals is unexpectedly stumbling upon great little gems like this dark but powerful drama. I was drawn in by the lure of Robin Tunney, whose work I always enjoy, and was wildly impressed with what I initially thought would just be a so-so film suitable for killing time.

Aaron Stanford (Tadpole) stars as Michael, a desperate teen on the run with his younger brother (Zack Savage). The duo have fled an abusive home after a mysterious, violent event that’s revealed in tiny bits and pieces through explosive flashbacks. Setting up temporary residence in a run-down motel, Michael takes a job at a roadside convenience store and is quickly befriended by its night-shift attendant, Carly (Tunney). But the demons from Michael’s past won’t let him rest, and he grows increasingly panicked that he and his brother will be found by police. Slowly but surely, his grasp on his situation becomes more and more tenuous, as he scrambles to earn money, keep his brother safe and elude authorities.

The success of Runaway lies largely with its cast and their terrific performances. Stanford crafts a character who’s perpetually walking the line between reality and a complete mental break, and the audience is able to run the full gamut of emotions in watching him: pity, empathy, concern, love, fear and, quite possibly, loathing. This role couldn’t be more different from that of Tadpole, and Stanford shows a wonderful range as an actor. Equally strong is Tunney, who once again proves that she’s a woefully underrated (or, perhaps, underappreciated) talent. Her Carly is equal parts sister, mother and would-be lover, and Tunney infuses her with enough heart and sass to make each facet of her personality work. The supporting players are no less impressive, with Terry Kinney in an understated turn as Michael’s psychiatrist, and Michael Gaston as the boys’ predatory and perfectly menacing father.

Director Tim McCann then takes his gifted cast and drops them into a well-written story that unfolds as quietly restrained emotional havoc punctuated by vibrant blasts of nightmarish action. The film’s direction may not come as a complete surprise, but its execution keeps the tension taut and allows its ending to remain effectively shocking.

Runaway isn’t a feel-good movie about overcoming adversity and triumphing over past trauma, and it’s certainly not subtle. Some people may have difficulty with the subject matter, but it is a wonderful film and definitely worth seeking out.

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