The “reimagining” of The Running Man (2025) comes across as a disturbing dystopian mirror to what is going on in America right now. Now as a “Boomer” I can tell you that politically motivated films are nothing new.
The first one I can remember vividly was the 1971 anti-establishment film Billy Jack. This was seen in one of its many drive-in runs in the late 70’s. If you did not leave the “theatre” feeling intense anger toward “the man” there was something wrong with your teen heart.
The First Running Man, with good old Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards, was also against “the man.” Penned by good old Stephen King, under his other nom de plume Richard Bachman, it was also one where we felt those rich folks did not like the poor ones.
I enjoyed the first one. The late Richard Dawson, he of Family Feud and Hogan’s Heroes plays Killian. Dawson is brilliant as the manipulative and smarmy Killian. Just as Josh Brolin nails it in this version of the film.
The Running Man Story (2025)
Ben Richards is on a blacklist. He speaks to a union rep and his family pays for it. His daughter is sick, his wife is in a soul destroying job. Ben ends up going on The Running Man to save his family.
Dream Team
The ever brilliant Edgar Wright, he of the Cornetto Trilogy, co-writes, and directs, the screenplay. *He shares credit with Michael Bacall and the literary source by King; writing as Bachman.* This adaptation is pretty close to the original book, set in 2025. Although, Richards seems to be a lot tougher than the protagonist in the book.
There is plenty of humour in the film, most likely because of Wright. I have been a fan for quite a while now of his output. *The only exception was my lukewarm and disappointed reaction to the last of the Cornetto Trilogy: The World’s End.*
Political Stuff
The Running Man is enjoyable, I suppose. There is some serendipitous casting going on here. Michael Cera is a delight. However. In the current climate of politics in the USA and the clear danger posed to anyone who is not a MAGA “believer,” the film is more than an almost prophetic warning.
The Warning
In a time where AI is running rampant and a time period rife with the phrase “Fake News,” the plotline of the film is downright disturbing. King, with his book could almost have been looking into a crystal ball. The only thing missing in this feature is the presence of a Jeffrey Epstein type.
What is present is the use of chaos and misdirection to control the masses. In this world, entertainment is the “big bad.” Killian is clearly meant to be a “Trump-like” character with his show presenter Bobby T, played brilliantly by Colman Domingo, is the face of the network.
Back to Politics Again
What is clear in this dystopian future is that we, the people, are being manipulated, lied to, dismissed. We are, in the overall scheme of things, unimportant. This administration has also released a horde of goons, called ICE and Border Patrol. In The Running Man, “hunters” kill with immunity, just like this administration’s version of Nazi enforcers.
No one is safe. We are here to be taken out. We are to salute this regime of terror, misdirection and fear mongering. An administration that deals in hate and spiteful rhetoric that is beyond disturbing.
Jeffrey Epstein
Our country is being overrun over by a type of despotic evil usually reserved for areas less developed than America. It is about to gallop out of control. This seems to be taking the public’s eye off the Epstein connection for a reason.
Back to the Film
Glen Powell is spot on as the ever angry Ben Richards. A man, that despite his anger issues, still looks out for his fellow man. Similar to the Incredible Hulk, Richards seems to always be angry. It is his “super power,” Killian tells him early on in the film. Lee Pace, as usual, gives good villain.
The Verdict
The Running Man earns a solid 5 stars here. Despite the disturbing, and yes, unsettling feeling one gets while watching the film, it works. However, the while the film is extremely well done, its parallel to real life, vs reel life, upsets more than it entertains. It is streaming on Paramount + and MGM + right now.
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