Director Aneesh Chaganty’s sophomore feature, Run, is a worthy followup to 2018’s Searching, even if it doesn't match its predecessor’s crafty brilliance. Clocking in at an economical 90 minutes, the film traverses through familiar beats, but its taut pacing and all-in performances elevate it well-above standard thriller fare. A giant step forward for disability representation in cinema, Run finds its white-knuckle suspense through accuracy and care of portrayal: Sarah Paulson gets top billing, but newcomer - and disabled actress - Kiera Allen is the real star. Minor spoilers ahead…

When is a gimmick not a gimmick? Aneesh Chaganty answers this question with his slick and thrilling directing debut Searching, the second film of the summer with Asians in lead roles. A straightforward mystery of a father in search of his missing daughter, Searching is a nimble and sharp story told through the lens of modern technology - the entire film is conveyed through screens, UIs, and cameras. A concept that easily could have come across as cheap and tacky instead elevates the film in ways that are exciting and surprisingly moving. Buoyed by a magnetic John Cho, the film is deeper and more thoughtful than your average cyber-thriller. Mild spoilers ahead…