Glen Powell Is Running on Empty in The Running Man

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Many dystopian films feel strangely self-satisfied. It’s simple to identify problems in today’s world and assume things will only decline. However, when a movie presents a bleak future, we tend to act as if we could never have imagined such horrors ourselves, instead praising the filmmaker’s creativity. For example, a government using cruel reality TV to distract from failing healthcare? It’s a terrifying concept, but not entirely unbelievable for the near future. Ultimately, a movie with a premise like that needs to be well-made and genuinely exciting on its own merits.

Edgar Wright’s film, The Running Man, based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel, is certainly dark, but it’s also quite heavy-handed and lacks genuine humor. Glen Powell stars as Ben Richards, a hardworking man struggling to support his family in a bleak, futuristic world. He’s recently lost his job at a depressing factory – hinted at being a selfless act for his colleagues, though he also battles anger issues – and his infant daughter is seriously ill. His wife, Sheila (Jayme Lawson), works long, exhausting shifts as a waitress at a rundown club catering to wealthy, unpleasant customers, as it’s the only way to earn money, but even that isn’t enough to afford the life-saving medication their daughter needs. In this grim future, only ineffective, counterfeit drugs are available to those who can’t afford the real thing.

Desperate for a way out, Ben signs up for a brutal, government-run game show called The Running Man. He’s physically fit, angry, and manages to get selected for the most dangerous version: a relentless chase where three contestants, publicly labeled as dangerous criminals, must try to survive for 30 days while being hunted across the country. The public is even encouraged to help track them down for rewards. If Ben can avoid capture for a month, he’ll win a massive fortune, enough to make him incredibly wealthy, according to the show’s creator, Dan Killian. Killian believes Ben’s combination of good looks and a fiery temper will make him a captivating contestant.

Ben is clearly being deceived; the game is unfair, and even though he suspects this, he stubbornly believes he still has a chance. The actor powerfully conveys Ben’s determination through physical cues – squinting, glaring, and jutting his chin. After visiting an old friend (William H. Macy, looking defeated) and getting some disguises, Ben attempts to disappear, moving from New York City to Boston and finally to rural Maine. Everyone, including the flamboyant host of the show (Colman Domingo), a shallow woman whose car he tries to take (Emilia Jones), and the most dangerous hunter (Lee Pace in a tight-fitting mask), wants to see him fail. Ben spends a lot of time running, often with a pained expression. The action sequences are chaotic and visually exaggerated, becoming quickly tiring.

The new film adaptation of The Running Man tries to be both entertaining and meaningful, but falls a bit short. While it touches on themes of family and the dangers of an oppressive government where surveillance is constant and suffering is accepted, these ideas feel secondary to the action. The film, based on Stephen King’s novel originally published under the name Richard Bachman, has been adapted before. The 1987 version, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was admittedly cheesy, but it had energy and, surprisingly, feels more connected to today’s world. A memorable line from the earlier film—a character demanding the ‘Entertainment Division’ of the Justice Department—feels particularly relevant now. Ultimately, the original version was simply more engaging.

Edgar Wright has created some truly enjoyable films, like the hilarious zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead (2004) and the engaging 2021 documentary The Sparks Brothers, which focuses on the musical duo Sparks. However, his work can sometimes lean towards being unnecessarily cruel, and that’s noticeable in The Running Man. One scene, where a harmless contestant is humiliated, feels pointless and isn’t funny. Beyond that, the film is simply a drag. While Powell’s character runs constantly, it never feels like there’s anything important on the line. He doesn’t come across as the angry, relatable hero the movie intends, and ultimately, both he and the film seem to be going nowhere.

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2025-11-12 23:06