THE RUNNING MAN: An Action-Packed Thriller That is Tonally At Odds With Itself

The Running Man is the latest in a series of Stephen King adaptations that have premiered in recent months, The Long Walk being another one. First written in the 1980s, these books (written under the Richard Bachman pseudonym) look towards the future as this dystopian world, in which the government is authoritatian and the media is used as a distraction from it. It just seems as if our current reality craves stories like this, which help us to make sense of what is happening now by showing an exaggerated but not unbelievable fictional narrative.

Edgar Wright‘s movie is very prescient in this way, and it is a far more faithful adaptation than the 1987 movie, which barely resembled the book other than the character names and some resemblance within the game show itself. Yet, this current version is also tonally confused; at times being a gritty action movie, at times cartoonishly over-the-top, and scattered throughout it has some thinly-veiled attempts at social commentary. It is a thrill ride that is often fun in the moment, but there was still much more potential here for something greater.

Reality Show Premise

The Running Man takes place in a dyustopian future, in which much of the world struggles to survive while others, such as governmental figures and the rich, live in luxury. The rich also indulge in riduculous reality shows, in which people desperate for money are put into ludicrous situations, in which many of them lose their lives. One of these shows is called The Running Man, the premise being that a select few individuals have to survive for 30 days while both the hunters and the general public try to hunt them down. If they survive, they will win $1 billion dollars, but the odds are very much against them.

Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is a father and husband who enters the reality show world in order to win enough money to support his sick daughter. After trials, it is determined that he is a contender for The Running Man. He sets out on his journey for survival, getting some help along the way, all while show producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), game show host Bobby Thompson (Colman Domingo), and a band of hunters led by Evan McCone (Lee Pace) are out to get him.

Dystopian Satire

The idea of a reality show for the entertainment of the rich is satire and of itself, showing the division of classes in this dystopian world, while also satirizing our obsession with reality TV as a distraction from the world’s woes. Where The Running Man falls short, though, is just with the true depth of the class divisions. There are bits and pieces scattered throughout; for example when discussing how Richards‘ daughter and another child seen later on may have gotten cancer through the polluted air that has been allowed to permeate poorer neighborhoods. We also get to know a couple other characters and see the type of desperation that they live in. But it’s not enough; this world doesn’t feel fully developed in its glimpse of the vast divide between the rich and the poor. When we do meet a more wealthy person later on, for example, the relationship and divide between her and Richards is so rushed that we aren’t able to see a fully realized relationship between the two.

It’s not as if King‘s story isn’t somewhat lacking on social commentary either, but considering the state of today’s world especially, it would seem that just merely touching on some dystopian themes isn’t enough. The world-building by Edgar Wright and the production crew here just doesn’t feel fully lived in; we needed to live and breath amongst these people instead of just seeing or hearing about an occasional incident. Instead, The Running Man is far more focused on being an action movie than anything else.

An Edgar Wright Movie?

It is in the action that The Running Man does somewhat succeed, and Glen Powell is willing to give it his all. He has the looks, the moves, the body, and the star appeal. Much like the film itself, though, his performance is occasionally at odds with itself. He goes from brooding Western-like antihero to screaming sarcastic lunatic throughout the film, sometimes within the span of a scene. The action itself is also similarly chaotic.

An example is a cartoonishly violent house invasion including Michael Cera with a Home-Alone style series of booby traps, while later on there is a more dynamically-edited scene on a careening airplane featuring Powell versus multiple bad guys. These two scenes show just how all over the place the film seems; it can be silly and over-the-top at times while gritty and bloody at others. And this inconsistency does make one yearn for the more kinetic energy of Wright‘s past movies like Baby Driver, in which he blends action and music with the editing so well, it essentially makes the entire film. The Running Man, though not without its individual standout moments, still just doesn’t live up to this.

For performances, besides Powell, the other standout here is Colman Domingo as the Running Man’s host. As the host, he live-streams the hunting down and murder of people on the show, all while expressing all the charisma and showboating that he can muster. Josh Brolin is a welcome addition to the cast as well, though he doesn’t get much more to do than just sit in a chair and be menacing through his iconic voice alone.

Conclusion

To conclude, The Running Man is a film that doesn’t quite live up to the hype. It’s part social commentary, part action, part star vehicle, yet it doesn’t fully succeed at any of these individually, nor does it standout amongst Edgar Wright‘s filmography. It’s ultimately a disappointment, though admittedly there is still some fun to be had along the way. That’s at least worth something.

What are your thoughts on The Running Man? Are you a fan of Edgar Wright’s films?

The Running Man is now playing in theaters worldwide.