Don't Move: A Thrilling Interview with the Directors – and the Magic of Sam Raimi!
Don't Move: Sam Raimi's Influence and Kelsey Asbille's Killer Performance
Netflix's Don't Move (out October 25th) is a pulse-pounding thriller where one woman's survival skills are put to the test against a ruthless killer. This isn’t just some ordinary thriller. The brilliance of the direction comes from the talented duo Adam Schindler and Brian Netto. But get this: the legendary Sam Raimi (yes, THAT Sam Raimi!) was a producer! This was after Schindler and Netto directed an episode of Raimi's 50 States of Fright anthology! That adds immense prestige; this project showcases serious potential, especially when considering the talent behind and in front of the camera!
Don't Move also boasts amazing cinematography from Zach Kuperstein (Barbarian)! This adds to the hype, considering that Barbarian's massive success; emphasizing that this creative team has serious chops. The story itself (written by T.J. Cimfel and David White) follows Iris (Kelsey Asbille of Yellowstone fame), a grieving mom who's attacked by a stranger (Finn Wittrock from American Horror Story). He injects her with a paralytic drug; she has less than 20 minutes to escape, leading to one intense race for her very survival!
The Directors Spill the Beans: Working with Sam Raimi
We sat down with Schindler and Netto to discuss everything, their experience working alongside Raimi (and that reaction when he first saw their director's cut), plus the physical and mental challenges that Asbille had while filming that particular project.
Schindler described Raimi as “very hands-on.” They mentioned his detailed script analysis: "He likes to sit down and read through every single line of the script. He gives the best script-to-screen notes we’ve ever received,” said Schindler, elaborating on the incredible attention to detail they employed and their detailed interactions with Raimi in an attempt to deliver on the audience's desires and what kind of excitement those audiences already anticipate. This was essential in capturing exactly those details needed. Their conversations helped the entire filmmaking process which went more smoothly than otherwise expected. The detail alone and focus on this crucial element would make the experience of working together exceptional. Both mentioned that their collaborative effort wasn’t simply that, they even “performed the lines,” demonstrating how focused this whole team was.
Netto described Raimi’s reaction to that first cut: “a very strong reaction—a positive, strong reaction. He was proud. He was happy for us,” highlighting that his positive and deeply engaged participation demonstrated a significant impact within the production; it's important to highlight Raimi’s direct, active participation in helping make the best version of Don't Move possible! He wasn't simply a name attached to the project; the collaboration generated truly noteworthy results. He really showed an “impressive enthusiasm” in their film even though some “fine-tuning” would still be required; it truly did demonstrate his very enthusiastic attitude which helped ensure success.
Kelsey Asbille's Masterclass in Subtlety and the Art of Stillness
Asbille’s role demanded exceptional acting prowess, her performance required capturing that terrifying descent into paralysis realistically and memorably; which Schindler and Netto highlighted, describing Asbille’s skill to portray such unique subtlety and range of emotion, highlighting those critical moments required for effectively conveying her desperate escape in a believable manner. She mentioned they discussed everything very, very thoroughly.
Netto shared their pre-production process; preparing and getting specific inputs from anesthesiologists that informed Asbille's portrayal. It's interesting, that level of attention even including the consultation from a specialist demonstrates why this filmmaking team approached this whole topic so thoughtfully, going above and beyond many typical filmmaking techniques to deliver on a higher artistic caliber, further emphasizing just how well-researched the production would become!
Filming itself involved constantly adjusting movements based on how she was portrayed throughout this incredibly realistic depiction of physical paralysis. “She’d trust us to go, ‘Yes, this is a perfect amount of movement,’ or, ‘You’re moving too much,’ and guide that,” added Schindler, further underscoring that level of collaboration.
The Real-Time Narrative: Building Tension Through Controlled Pacing
Don't Move is almost entirely real-time and maintains immense suspense through controlled pacing. Schindler and Netto discuss the planning with Kuperstein, emphasizing their strategy: "How are we going to live? How are we going to do this? Are we going to live in these moments?” which was repeated and served to influence those various stylistic approaches in creating a compelling narrative. The approach involves long shots which really allowed Asbille's facial expressions to drive the scene, capturing the raw emotion with subtlety.
Their directorial style also involved making use of that immersive quality through thoughtful storytelling. “We stick to the plan,” emphasized Schindler, further emphasizing the immense benefit and advantage generated from careful planning; a technique highly effective and clearly highlighted as one of their core techniques. It really produced exactly what the viewers eagerly awaited.
Conclusion: Don't Move is an Intense, Masterfully Crafted Thriller
Don't Move is no ordinary thriller and deserves the accolades mentioned by Schindler and Netto through that previously shared interview! That focus on character, suspenseful real-time action and excellent collaboration resulted in a really, really incredible piece of cinematic art! And those key comments shared from both really make this film worth looking at; that attention to detail; those masterful directing choices generated through very specific interactions in this creative filmmaking process that included not just the directorial duo, but the key people and experts they interacted with to gain essential knowledge and input. This production had a lot of preparation prior to release, something you may just have to notice; highlighting the value of teamwork; thoughtful decisions, as well as careful creative storytelling strategies to create what may arguably be one of the better, critically-lauded and noteworthy thriller films this year! Expect intense suspense!
