Run Amok(2027)

Storyline

• In her striking debut feature, writer-director NB Mager boldly wades into the thorny aftermath of a school tragedy with thoughtfulness and a refreshing recentering of the young people most directly affected. Working tonal miracles in her script's balance of dark humor and heartbreak, Mager brings us front and center into the absurdist reality many students in America know all too well - one where adults' empty promises, reactivity, and platitudes obscure genuine emotional processing. At the heart of it all is a breakout performance from Alyssa Marvin, who embodies Meg in all her layered complexity and affecting persistence as she looks to heal from the impossible. A tender testament to the power of theater told with unconventional charm, Run Amok presents a singular vision that subverts catharsis and honors the lingering lack of answers. — Sundance Film Festival Ambitious, powerful and timely, Run Amok left me speechless. Balancing dark comedy and emotionally devastating material while focused on the healing powers of the arts, NB Mager has crafted a special film. Her exploration of grief and trauma, showing the differences between the older generation who won't talk about it and the younger generation vocalizing their pain to heal themselves, is compelling and creates an experience unlike any other you will watch, especially the hallway scene which is one of the most evocative scenes seen in ages. Alyssa Marvin is phenomenal, leading the film with a nuanced exploration of Meg's inner emotional turmoil as she stages a musical that recreates the tragedy that claimed the life of her mother, while exploring the complexities of the situation and facts she never knew, while Patrick Wilson is excellent as Mr. Shelby as he helps guide Meg on her controversial endeavor. A staggering feature debut from NB Mager that is equally heartbreaking, hilarious and uplifting that will leave its mark on audiences for the better. — Darren Movie Reviews