The Book Is Better: New 'The Running Man' Fixes the '87 Movie but Betrays the Novel
It's a spectacular but sterile entertainment that accomplishes the bare minimum and fails to make viewers think.
Four years after Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright returns with his adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man. The movie, which premiered on November 14, is an adrenaline-pumping action thriller that never lets viewers get bored.
While the new adaptation surpassed the iconic 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, it still fell short of the original novel's depth and social poignancy.
What Is 'The Running Man' About?
The story is set in an alternate 2025 where the global economy has collapsed, and a powerful corporation called The Network has taken over the US. The corporation's leader, Dan Killian, entertains the public with brutal reality shows.
Ben Richards, a former critic of the regime, is in dire straits: his daughter is gravely ill, and he can't afford medicine. In order to save her, he decides to participate in the deadly show The Running Man, in which he must evade professional hunters for 30 days.
However, the organizers are playing dirty, forcing Ben to resort to every possible trick to survive.
Edgar Wright's Version Is Much Better Than Paul Michael Glaser's 1987 Movie
Edgar Wright's adaptation is significantly more faithful to the Stephen King original book than the loose 1987 version.
While Glaser transformed the grim dystopia into a video-game-like spectacle, Wright retained the book's key elements: the harsh reality of survival on city streets, class inequality, and satire of a spectacle-obsessed society.
Additionally, Wright successfully expanded the story to show the far-reaching consequences of Ben's game for society.
Wright Maximizes the Action, Yet Downplays the Social Message of the Original
The action scenes are astounding: explosions, fights, and a bloody battle on a plane. However, this adrenaline frenzy overshadows the core of the movie – the oppressive spirit of the original.
King's book was more about paranoia and human anxiety in a corrupted world where Big Brother manipulates consciousness than it was about car chases.
Wright only scratches the surface of these topics, limiting himself to Ben's occasional remarks. A profound exploration of the horrific corporate world and broken human psychology is replaced here by a run-of-the-mill thrill ride.
'The Running Man' Looks Like a Typical Action Movie – It Lacks Wright's Signature Style
The biggest disappointment, however, is the absence of the director's signature style. None of the familiar fervor of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the mischievous energy of Baby Driver, or the wit of the Three Flavours Cornetto is present.
The protagonist, a complex and sarcastic character in the book, has been transformed into a typical Hollywood muscleman.
The Running Man seems like an attempt to create a blockbuster in the style of Marvel or Fast & Furious, sacrificing King's spirit and Wright's unique style in the process.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Running Man'?
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The Running Man has 65% from critics and 79% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.8/10.
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On Letterboxd, The Running Man scored 3.3/5.0.
Where to Watch 'The Running Man'?
The Running Man is currently playing in theaters.
