The Netflix Sam Raimi-produced horror Don’t Move has quickly captured attention for its high-stakes thriller plot, but the story behind it is rooted in something much deeper.
Directed by Adam Schindler and Brian Netto, the story centers on Iris, a woman who must fight for her life after being paralyzed by a serial killer. While its chilling premise taps into universal fears of helplessness and survival, the film goes beyond the thriller genre—it explores the resilience of the mind under extreme pressure, drawing from real-life experiences such as the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to its filmmakers.
What Is “Don’t Move” About?
Don’t Move tells the story of Iris (Kelsey Asbille), a woman who is injected with a paralytic drug by a serial killer and left helpless in a remote location. As she loses control of her body, Iris must rely on her mind to survive.
The film unfolds in real-time, a structure that posed a unique challenge for the directors. As producer Sam Raimi admitted to Tudum, the script required Iris to be still for extended periods. “I was concerned that the audience would become restless, but the directors handled it so well, it becomes more and more suspenseful.”
How the Pandemic Inspired Netflix’s “Don’t Move”
The idea behind Don’t Move emerged during the later stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many felt both physically and metaphorically trapped. “The script for this was developed during the later stages of the pandemic, so there was a lot of loss going on around and there were a lot of people stuck, physically and metaphorically,” Director Adam Schindler said in an interview with Forbes. “So, the idea of coming out of something and having the will to survive was on our minds.”
The film’s core concept was shaped by this shared experience of isolation and survival. “We had to come up with a concept and ask, ‘Who fits in this concept? How do you make people care about what happens to her?’” Adam continued in the same interview, highlighting the challenge of creating a relatable character in the face of trauma. The filmmakers wanted to depict Iris not just as a victim but as someone battling internal and external forces to stay alive.
The connection to the pandemic is evident not only in the themes of confinement but also in the physical and emotional constraints faced by the protagonist. “There was a universal aspect of feeling trapped in your own house or your own body,” Adam shared in a separate interview with Screenrant. “This idea of, ‘When are we ever going to be able to get out and go on with our lives?’ All of that was in the ether when we were developing it, so I think it seeped into the script in certain ways.”
On the Character of Iris in “Don’t Move”
One of the defining features of Don’t Move is Iris’ complex psychological journey. Unlike typical survival stories where the protagonist instinctively fights for survival, Iris begins her ordeal in a much darker place—she was ready to give up on life. “When we married the idea of this woman that slowly loses her mobility and it slowly gains it back with this journey, it made all the sense in the world because this is a woman who was ready to forfeit her life—and then she gets into a situation where she's forced to fight for it,” explained Director Brian Netto in the interview with Forbes.
The director elaborated on the difference between wanting to survive and wanting to live, which becomes central to Iris' character arc. “Instinct will make you want to survive, but she has to discover a reason why she wants to keep going,” he said in the interview. “She's going to have to outsmart him [the serial killer] and outwit him and find a way out of this just to see another day.”
The film also explores the universal nature of trauma and recovery, something that resonates with many people. Adam noted with Screenrant that the emotional journey at the heart of the Don’t Move mirrors something everyone can relate to: “We've all gone through situations where we're down, and we have to push ourselves back up. So, we felt that was very universal and would speak to any culture, to any language, to any belief system that you adhere to.”
Don’t Move is streaming on Netflix.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
