That headline might sound like I didn’t like the movie, but I actually did enjoy it. When I first heard that filmmaker Edgar Wright was developing a new film adaptation of Stephen King’s story, my ears perked up with excitement. I am a big fan of Wright’s filmmaking, and I went into this screening thinking that Wright would not only be faithful to the source material but would also take it to new heights with his brand of humor and skillful filmmaking. I was not entirely incorrect, but his dedication to recreating King’s literary vision doesn’t allow his ideas to shine as brightly as they could. The overall result is a film that feels like the studio pressured Wright to tone down some of his creativity and make his adaptation of The Running Man a direct translation of the material.
Glenn Powell stars as Ben Richards, a down-on-his-luck laborer who can’t seem to keep a steady job, as the demands of his employers often compromise his morals. Therefore, Richards gets labeled as a rebel with a mind of his own. This reputation proves to be even more problematic when he gets fired from a job, and his daughter Cathy gets very ill, and both Ben and his wife Sheila (Jayme Lawson) cannot afford the medicine she needs.
As this story takes place in a dystopian future where television networks rule and control entertainment and news, Ben desperately decides to sign up for a harrowing and risky game show called The Running Man. In this reality/game show, contestants are given a few necessities and are released as fugitives to be hunted and killed by a group of warriors selected by the network. Richards must utilize all of his skills and rebellious nature to survive, ensuring that his family benefits from any degree of success he achieves.
Based on King’s 1982 novel (of the same name), and written by Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright, the movie is much more faithful to just about everything Stephen King details in his book. Bacall and Wright have a great deal of affection for the story, as they painstakingly made an effort to recreate almost every beat and detail that has captivated readers for decades. As most people are aware, the story has already been previously adapted for the cinema in an Arnold Schwarzenegger action vehicle from the 1980s. However, that particular movie took a lot of liberties with the original story, and though it is a fun flick, it just isn’t quite the same.
I expected a little more from Wright. Making this film muted a lot of what makes him a brilliant filmmaker. However, King’s story is thrilling and exciting, offering genuine insight into the human condition. I expected Wright to do something more dynamic and exciting.
I found the movie to be a great time, nevertheless. The humor, the tension, and the violence all deliver solidly, but I just wanted a bit more from Bacall and Wright. In the final act of the film, Bacall and Wright take some liberties with the story, and now that I know how the book ends, the film ends on a relatively weak and rote note.
That said, I was mostly pleased with the cast, notably Powell, who makes Ben Richards a more relatable character than Arnold does in his movie, and one that feels more like an underdog that should not succeed, regardless of his personality or skills. I also enjoyed watching Josh Brolin portray the slimy and ruthless producer of The Running Man program, Dan Killian. Colman Domingo is perfectly cast as the show’s boisterous host, Bobby T.
Overall, this adaptation of The Running Man appears more realistic and credible than the previous one. Still, Wright’s dedication to the source material detracted from what makes Wright a brilliant and unique filmmaker. I still recommend the movie, and many King fans will appreciate Wright’s dedication to the story. As far as Wright fans are concerned, though, I think they will be a little disappointed, as I was, that his voice didn’t add much to this adaptation