The Real-Life Cat-And-Mouse Game That Stunned Australia Is Now a Must-Watch Thriller

The Australian project Run tells the story of Brenden Abbott, a bank robber who terrorized police in several states in the 1990s while simultaneously sending detectives ironic postcards.

The creators are more interested in the man behind the crime than the crime itself. The result is not a fast-paced show but rather a complex character study of a perpetual fugitive who doesn't know why he's running.

What Is 'Run' About?

The plot is based on the true story of Brenden Abbott, an Australian criminal who escaped from prison in the late 1980s and spent the next six years robbing banks across the country.

Abbott was renowned for his audacity and ingenuity. He spent weeks studying security guards, crafting electronic hacking devices, and creating clever disguises. According to legend, he also sent mocking postcards to the police.

He strove to avoid violence, which added to his public image as a "noble robber."

'Run' Isn't a Heist Series – It's a Profound and Mature Psychological Crime Drama

The creators of Run resisted the temptation to turn Abbott's story into a cheesy heist movie. Many details of the crimes remain off-screen because the creators are more interested in the why than the how.

Why would an intelligent, talented, and charismatic man choose a life of perpetual fugitivity? The answers lie in his character. Abbott is a paradox: rational yet hot-tempered, cool-headed yet romantic, a brilliant criminal yet helpless in relationships.

His brother tries to emulate him in everything, and his girlfriend, Jackie, can neither fully accept him nor let him go – all of them are doomed to suffer because of his inability to stop.

Run explores Abbott's obsession without resorting to cheap psychoanalysis. Yes, Abbott had a difficult childhood with absent parents, but his character is more complex than the sum of his traumas.

Despite Its Inclination Towards Drama, 'Run' Still Manages to Deliver a Pulse-Pounding Action

The first episode treats viewers to a prison break scene that adheres to all the hallmarks of the genre: suspense, tension, unexpected twists, and flashes of violence. Later episodes feature robberies, chases, and other breathtaking scenes.

However, the main source of suspense is the cat-and-mouse game between Abbott and Detective Porter. Porter, a fictional character, plays an important role in revealing why the criminal was so difficult to catch.

This is not only due to Abbott's genius, but also to the disorganized communication between police agencies. And Porter is as obsessive as his adversary – he is willing to do anything to make a name for himself.

What Did Viewers Think of 'Run'?

• On IMDb, Run has a score of 6.8/10.