The Running Man
My apologies to all the fans of “The Hunger Games,” but when I first saw the trailers for this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated sci-fi/adventure, the first movie that came to mind was this cheesy action thriller from the ’80s. While I had originally planned to review a more, um, prestigious movie for this week’s “A Movie a Week,” my schedule has forced me to change things up a bit, and this film seemed the perfect choice to go with.
In 2017, the world has gone into economic collapse. A military state has taken over, and all forms of entertainment are regulated by the government. The most popular show is “The Running Man,” a violent game show where convicts try and win their freedom against athletes and soldiers. In this oppressive world, Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has been imprisoned and framed for the massacre of 1500 innocent people. After he and two other inmates (played by Yaphet Kotto and Marvin J. McIntyre) manage an escape, but it’s not long until Richards is captured and sent to “The Running Man’s” sociopathic host, Damon Killian (Richard Dawson, who was the host of “Family Feud” at the time), who knows talent, and the potential for fantastic ratings, when he sees it.
“The Running Man” is based on a novel by Richard Bachman; you might know him better as Stephen King. Bachman is a pen name the horror master uses for his lesser works, although I have no doubt that the novel, The Running Man, had more nuance in its social commentary than the Steven E. deSouza screenplay for “The Running Man,” the film, does. The “Die Hard” scripter has taken Bachman/King’s critique on the greedy ’80s; economic inequality; violence as entertainment; and the pending rise of reality shows, and turned it into an over-the-top action flick tailored for The Muscles From Brussels at the peak of his popularity. Several years ago, I actually did a double feature of this and Schwarzenegger’s other 1987 action thriller, “Predator,” for my birthday with a couple of my besties, and it was definitely a change of pace, and truly, a lot of fun.
Ultraviolent action sequences. Ridiculous Schwarzenegger puns. A pulsating score by Harold Faltermeyer (“Top Gun,” “Beverly Hills Cop”). Yeah, this is definitely an ’80s action movie, and God help me, I love it. I love the hard-core machismo by Schwarzenegger and his muscled co-stars such as Jim Brown and Jesse Ventura. I love the tough sexuality in Maria Conchita Alonso’s Amber, who turns Richards in, but ends up a runner herself. I love the bravado and dark comedy of Dawson’s performance as the most sadistic game show host this side of Simon Cowell. This is just a fun guy movie, and honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
