How Sam Raimi Took a Risk on the Netflix Thriller ‘Don’t Move,’ Say Directors Adam Schindler and Brian Netto

In the gripping Netflix survival thriller Don’t Move, Kelsey Asbille plays a protagonist who spends much of the film immobilized—an approach that initially raised doubts, even among the film’s creative team, including the legendary Sam Raimi. The movie’s tension revolves around a cat-and-mouse chase that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, but the pitch of a helpless character presented a unique challenge for the directors.

For the co-directing duo behind Don’t Move, Adam Schindler and Brian Netto, the experience of creating this film was nothing short of a high-stakes gamble. And yet, their journey began in a rather unexpected place: Woodbury, Minnesota, where they were childhood classmates and budding filmmakers. They honed their craft in their suburban neighborhood, drawing inspiration from none other than the Coen brothers, who had similarly started making films in their own small Minnesota town years earlier.

As they grew more serious about their filmmaking careers, Schindler and Netto adopted a similar co-directing strategy to the Coens. To make the process more palatable to investors and financiers, they decided to credit only one of them as the director, with the other taking on the role of producer. This creative approach was inspired by the Coens’ own career trajectory, who employed the same strategy for years before publicly sharing directing credit for The Ladykillers in 2004.

For Schindler and Netto, however, their collaboration paid off. With Raimi’s backing, they were able to bring Don’t Move to life, overcoming initial skepticism surrounding the film’s premise. Their journey is a testament to the power of creative risk-taking and the strength of their long-standing partnership.