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Sundance’s ‘Run Amok’ Draws Praise for Lead Turn as Reviews Question Satirical Bite

Early reactions single out Alyssa Marvin’s performance, with recurring concerns about uneven satire.

Overview

  • NB Mager’s feature expands her short into a drama about students staging a musical reenactment of a decade-old school shooting.
  • Festival reviews describe a potent exploration of grief and catharsis that proves more effective dramatically than comedically.
  • Critics cite dystopian touches like rubber-bullet-armed teachers and a Parent Teacher Arms Association as sharp concepts with inconsistent follow-through.
  • Alyssa Marvin’s lead performance earns strong notices, while several note underused adult cast members and conventional visuals.
  • Patrick Wilson appears as a teacher central to the tragedy and also serves as a producer, with the team positioning the film as a conversation-starter.