Run Baby Run Movie Review : An effective thriller that engages us in parts

Run Baby Run is a 2019 Indian thriller movie directed by Jiyen Krishnakumar featuring RJ Balaji and Aishwarya Rajesh in the lead roles. The film begins with the suicide of a medical student named Sophie, which immediately piques the audience's interest. This event sets the tone for a thrilling and suspenseful ride that keeps the audience hooked throughout.

The writer takes us back in time to introduce Sathya (RJ Balaji), a bank employee, who witnesses a stranger girl (Aishwarya Rajesh) in his car all of a sudden, on the way home. She pleads for help and requests that he let her stay in his apartment for a few hours until her guardian comes to her rescue. Initially, Sathya refuses to assist her, but he recognizes that her life is in danger and allows her in on a humane basis. Unfortunately, he finds Tara (the stranger girl) dead the next morning at his place. Following the advice of a friend, who is a police officer, he decides to dispose of the body by transporting it to Senji, his hometown.

The movie takes an exciting turn as Sathya finds himself drawn into a web of lies and conspiracies, trying to find out who Tara was and why she was murdered. The first half of the movie is full of unexpected twists and turns that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The film's pace slows down in the second half, which turns into an investigative thriller. The writing loses steam, and some of the twists are not impactful enough.

The movie's success is not in its story, but in the intriguing narration technique that is incorporated throughout. The reason why Sathya decides to seek justice for a stranger is quite effective and organic. The suicide of an innocent driver, who becomes one of the prime suspects in Tara's case, is one of the major arcs in the film. The movie does an excellent job of keeping the audience engaged throughout, even though the story itself is not groundbreaking.

Emotions play a vital role in suspense thrillers, and Run Baby Run is no exception. The film manages to capture the viewer's empathy and forces them to feel the characters' plight. Aishwarya Rajesh's screen presence and expressive eyes are particularly noteworthy, and she delivers a compelling performance. RJ Balaji's character, on the other hand, looks confused in most parts of the movie, given the complexities and questions he has to deal with. His performance is decent, but it's not spectacular enough to leave a lasting impact.

The technical aspects of the film are commendable. Both cinematography and music help the audience connect with the central characters and their conflicts. The film also features a talented supporting cast, including Hareesh Peradi, Bhagavathi Perumal, Isha Talwar, and Vivek Prasanna, but none of them were utilized to the fullest. This is a missed opportunity since they could have added a lot more depth to the story and characters.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the movie is the final reveal, which could have been staged better. When the writer tells us who the killer is, our reactions are just blank. We are neither shocked nor surprised. If the writer had made us travel with the killer from the beginning, it would have been much more effective.

In conclusion, Run Baby Run is a thrilling movie that keeps the audience hooked throughout, even though it's not a groundbreaking story. The first half is full of unexpected twists and turns, while the second half turns into an investigative thriller. The technical aspects of the film are commendable, and the acting performances are decent. However, the movie could have been better if the writer had staged the final reveal better and utilized the supporting cast to the fullest.