“Push” follows Natalie, a pregnant realtor who must find a way to escape after a violent attack at her open house sends her into labor. 

A Slow and Shaky Start

The early stages of “Push” attempt to add depth to the central characters. The film offers brief flashbacks to show the grief-stricken state Natalie is in. It also tries to turn the house itself into a character, highlighting its lore and strange quirks. 

But the movie spends so much time setting this up that the story doesn’t fully kick into gear until the halfway point.

These added layers raise the stakes once chaos erupts, but they also damage the film’s pacing. With almost nothing happening for the first 40 minutes, it’s hard to invest – even when that’s exactly what the film is asking you to do. The character development and home backstory feel more forced than organic.

Atmospheric But Dim

“Push” is extremely dark – literally. The film has little to no lighting throughout its runtime, and at times it verges on unwatchable. That said, it does use this darkness to its advantage in a few scenes, creating tension and chilling visuals with figures lurking in the background. 

Flickering lights add some ambiance, but otherwise, it’s a visually dull experience.

The concept itself is compelling, but “Push” only explores it for about one-third of its 89-minute runtime. As with many home-invasion thrillers, there’s often a turning point where things either escalate or fall apart. “Push” falls into the latter.

Missed Opportunity

The film squanders its premise, never fully exploring the tension or terror it promises. The performances don’t elevate it either. Alicia Sanz (Natalie) has limited dialogue, but brings physicality and intensity that sell the chaos her character endures. Raúl Castillo (The Client) is effectively menacing, but the script gives him little motive or substance, resulting in a forgettable villain.

“Push” does contain moments of suspense, but they’re few and far between. They ultimately end up lost in the film’s uneven pacing and near-total darkness.

“Push” has the idea, but not the execution. The film meanders through its opening act before shifting into occasional bursts of tension. But it quickly abandons its most interesting ideas and becomes a generic thriller. This could’ve been something bold. Instead, it blends in with all the rest.

Rating: 2 out of 5