Stephen King set his novel The Running Man in the year 2025. I wonder if Edgar Wright has been holding onto this material for this very specific window presented here, but gosh does it ever fit snuggle into our Everyman for himself, and culture in the real 2025.
Glen Powell’s Ben Richard’s needs money and he needs it now. His young daughter is sick, and the working class environment he and his partner have been able to provide for her is slipping through their fingers. However in this America money comes in heaps if you’re willing to play into the culture’s blood lust. At least that’s what they say. “This is America, G-d Dammit! And we don’t take no bullshit!” Colman Domingo’s spectacular showman announces. Domingo works for “The Running Man “, the top-rated show in the world.
Its a deadly competition where contestants are hunted, and imagine a death race where it’s not just the other drivers in the neighbouring cars trying to kill you….. its everyone, whether through commission or omission. The populace gets off on watching these desperate contestants fail. Their dystopian world view: if we cant make it, neither can you.Imagine “America’s Got Talent” where talented or not, the audience want to see people lose in glorious shame snd disgrace. In that world, the runners need more than luck, they damn near need an Act of God. Powell cements himself terrifically as a new action hero . He has the kind of Everyman quality that ignited Bruce Willis’ career after Die Hard. Not the same, but a similar vein.
Colman Domingo is a bolt of electricity that is a treat to watch in his handful of scenes. And there are several notable small turns by fantastic character actors. The action is incredible, as are the visuals that all the studio teams bring their A-game to. Even though RUNNING MAN may look like familiar dystopian sci-fi worlds we have already seen, it feels very fresh snd new.
The original 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger movie is regarded as a cult classic. Ben must go on the run, he can travel anywhere in the world and survive outrunning a group of highly skilled and trained assassins sent to kill him. If he survives 30 days, he’ll pocket a cool one billion dollars in prize money. Unbeknownst to Ben the show is rigged and in a world dominated by AI, can you really believe what you’re seeing on screen?!
As an action movie, this new version of RUNNING MAN is terrific, brilliantly staged and moves along at a fast pace. Perhaps it lacks Arnie’s tongue-in-cheek fun. The message behind the movie is clear cut and mirrors today’s views through an art form. Its a brilliant remake and perhaps a nods to current times with regards to what is brutally carried out by ICE and with big corporations taking over government.
Photography began in the UK at the end of 2024 in London, booking Wembley Stadium for a week. Paul Mabliss wasted the editor making his fifth collaboration with director Edgar Wright. Steven Price composed the musical score . Josh Brolin plays a charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian.
