If I had a nickel for every Stephen King adaptation we got this year about a deadly competition, I would surprisingly have two nickels. Following The Long Walk, The Running Man is yet another film based on a novel written by the renowned master of literary thrillers, Stephen King. This story has actually gotten a film adaptation before starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, this film serves as a reboot with a different tone, but the same premise. In a dystopian future, a man named Ben Richards who can barely get by to provide for his family is forced to sign up for the the Running Man, a deadly competition where competitors must survive a whole month being hunted by the country’s most dangerous hunters and mercenaries for an enormous cash prize. Now, the source material is extremely grim and, similar to The Long Walk, conveys the message of how far people must go for success in a deteriorating society that treats their struggle as spectacle. So, you could probably imagine my surprise when I found out Edgar Wright was directing this film. Don’t get me wrong, Edgar Wright is one of my favorite filmmakers in the industry right now. He has made gems such as Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Hot Fuzz, and Baby Driver that blend witty humor and dialogue with stylish cinematography and action. (Also, amazing music in the case of Baby Driver, one of my favorite films as a music lover.) However, I was curious as to how his signature directing style would tackle a story such as this given the source material. It turned out to not only be the film’s biggest pro, but also the film’s biggest con. The exaggerated and animated performances from Glen Powell, Coleman Domingo, and the rest of the cast were fantastic to watch and the action set pieces were brutal, but thrilling and well directed. However, the film also suffered from some pacing issues and tonal inconsistencies. I definitely found it difficult from time to time whether or not I was supposed to care about certain characters they showed us or take certain scenes seriously when the story’s message contrasted so greatly from the film’s lighter tone. However, I still had fun watching this particular action thriller, and I think anyone who is not as familiar with the source material will enjoy this film a lot more than someone who is. Score: 7/10
Noah Robinson 