The Running Man
THE RUNNING MAN (18)
D: Paul Michael Glaser
Rank/Braveworld (Tim Zimmerman & George
Linder)
US 1987
101 mins
Action/Science Fiction
W: Steven E. de Souza [based on the novel by Richard
Bachman (Stephen King)]
DP: Thomas Del Ruth
Ed: Mark Roy Warner, Edward Warschilka & John
Wright
Mus: Harold Faltermeyer
PD: Jack T. Collis
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Ben Richards), Maria Conchita
Alonso (Amber Mendez), Richard Dawson (Damon Killian), Yaphet Kotto (William Laughlin), Marvin J. McIntyre (Harold Weiss), Mick Fleetwood (Mick), Jesse Ventura (Captain
Freedom)
Though it may be based on a novel by Stephen King (under
the pseudonym Richard Bachman), this is very much tailored to take advantage of it's star. In fact, very little remains of the original story, but this is arguably what film adaptations are
for.
Set in a dystopian future where a public execution arena
is staged as a game show, a disgraced cop, framed for the murder of thousands has to fight for his freedom against a group of "stalkers", this dark future's equivalent of celebrity sportsmen,
with a thirst for blood and deadly arsenal of weapons.
Like the same year's Robocop (qv), The Running Man takes
great mirth in satirising media and violence, which it does incredibly well. Schwarzenegger may not win many awards for his acting, but this film is perfect for him, giving him many memorable
pay off lines which he practically built his filmstar career on.
Some parts of the film haven't dated particularly well,
specifically some aspects of the production design, visual effects and its TV movie-of-the-week direction.
7/10
