I’m a fan of sci-fi stories involving aliens coming to Earth for various reasons, particularly because the creativity decades of alien invasion movies have afforded newer creatives. Everything from the ongoing Alien: Earth TV show to movies like 2016’s Arrival – one of my favorites – offer varied alien stories with fresh themes and ideas that feel distinct in presentation.

Unfortunately, 2025’s Run doesn’t fall into any of these categories. The movie offers a promising, if generic, opening: a woman is waving for help from fighter jets above her while a car burns in the background, a crashed flying saucer not too far away. The film continues to tease a cryptic alien invasion film, as the invaders’ first victim is dispatched in a brutal, dark way.

However, these typical-yet-fun opening scenes are, unfortunately, the best in the movie. What follows is a thin storyline about Melissa (Annie Ngosi Ilonzeh), a young woman who gets cold feet the day of her wedding. After cancelling it last-minute, she joins her friends on a getaway in a cabin, where they stay as a generic alien invasion happens around the world. It’s there they stay as bloodthirsty, super-strong extraterrestrials stalk about outside, waiting for someone to run out.

Run Feels Stuck In The Shadow Of A Much Better Horror Movie

There’s nothing about Run that truly makes it stand out from other alien invasion movies in a positive way. While it offers a hook that promises a by-the-numbers story, this sci-fi film falls short in delivering anything engaging for its core heroes. Much of the film takes place at the cabin, with everyone involved coming to terms with or plotting an escape from the extraterrestrials outside.

But, beyond a few scenes of terror and light gore, the majority of the film doesn’t make good use of its time. Clocking in at just 95 minutes, I found myself checking the time constantly because of how repeтιтive the movie’s storyline became. Back-and-forth conversations between characters often went in circles, never offering depth to the situation or their personalities. Writing this review, I struggle to remember more than two names.

This majority focus on a meandering plot is made all the more dour by what the movie does well. Everyone onscreen is doing their best with the material they’re given. Each actor in Melissa’s circle offers an authentic performance that somewhat elevates the dry screenplay. Their reactions and interactions feel realistic, even when given dialogue and direction that feels circular. Ilonzeh’s Melissa and Marques Houston’s Andre are the standouts, but everyone is giving it their all.

The same goes for the world the story takes place in. While the characters are oftentimes stuck in their cabin, news broadcasts reveal the impact the aliens are having on the outside world. This includes cities that are facing the brunt of the invasion, alongside strategies people are using to fight back. It’s a little goofy and cheesy at times, but these moments have by far the strongest writing and worldbuilding. Plus, it’s fun to watch in contrast to the circular conversations the heroes get up to.

But therein lies the biggest issue with Run: it feels like it’s living in the shadow of what could be a better movie. The world beyond the main characters is more enticing than their plights, with the film feeling like a side story in what should be a much bigger, bolder narrative. And, unfortunately, not even the sequences involving the dangerous aliens can save the story.

Run Tries & Fails To Offer Scary Alien Antagonists

Although Run is supposed to be an alien invasion horror movie, the film does a poor job at showcasing the aliens as ever-present threats. There are plenty of intense moments where the slasher-like creatures are a genuine threat to the group. While the inspiration feels very Predator-esque, it still offered some intense sequences as characters were getting chased.

However, the aliens’ behavior is never consistent within the narrative; their strength is often halted by the most minor of obstacles, despite managing physical feats the likes of which few humans could attain. It doesn’t help their designs are non-threatening, feeling like something pulled out of Resident Alien with a few ideas from A Quiet Place slapped on for good measure.

Given the sheer amount of time characters spend talking in circles, there’s never any deep explanation into why these aliens, who have technology advanced enough to invade Earth, act like semi-intelligent wild animals. It’s the bow on top of Run‘s crudely-constructed gift wrapping, which offers very little despite the flickering lights of potential that shine from time to time.

Even though it has very realistic performances with a cast that does their best, Run‘s writing and circular storytelling dampen what could have otherwise been a generic, but still fun, alien invasion movie. The film is hampered by having an uninteresting approach to its story, and a direction that simply doesn’t work given its active тιтle.

Run arrives in theaters on August 29, 2025.