Edgar Wright shot to fame following the massive success of the first two installments of his Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz). Both films are widely considered required viewing in the UK, perfectly capturing the British sense of humour. By teaming up with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and a slew of Britain’s best actors, Wright created cinematic gold. Between Hot Fuzz and The World’s End, Wright jumped across the pond to deliver what some consider his best film: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Since then, he has dabbled in different genres—an action heist with Baby Driver and horror with Last Night in Soho—but has never quite hit those early heights. His latest film sees him tackle another adaptation, this time of a sci-fi Stephen King novel.
The Running Man follows Ben Richards (Glen Powell), a man desperate for money to treat his ill child. This desperation leads him to apply for any game show that will accept him. He is eventually selected for the deadliest show of all: The Running Man, where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted.
I love Edgar Wright’s work, specifically his signature style: quick edits, clever jokes, and visual subversion. Unfortunately, those elements feel missing here. This blockbuster production reminds me of James Wan directing Aquaman solely to get the greenlight for the horror films he actually wanted to make. I wonder if we are seeing a similar scenario with Wright; perhaps this is a “one for them” movie so he can make a “one for me” movie next. That said, I did enjoy the film. It has solid action and an interesting premise that carries the runtime, but it could have been so much more.
Glen Powell has become a star leading man since Top Gun: Maverick. He possesses great charm and likability, and he does a good job leading this film. However, the writing of his character lets him down. In one moment, Josh Brolin’s character claims Richards is “the angriest contestant the show has ever seen.” As a viewer, I didn’t feel that. We don’t see that anger build; because the film starts with Richards already unemployed and desperate, I felt pity rather than intimidation.
The film’s biggest strength is Colman Domingo. He is currently at his peak in Hollywood and consistently delivers top-tier performances. I also enjoyed Lee Pace’s hunter. He felt like a genuine threat—giving off a Terminator-esque, cold-hearted killer vibe—and delivered a strong performance, mask on and off. Conversely, talents like Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, and Katy O’Brian feel wasted. The film telegraphs their fates almost immediately after introducing them, rather than spending time developing their characters.
Another setback is the nature of the adaptation itself. The ending feels rushed; the film would have benefited from taking more time to explore the ramifications of the climax.
Overall, The Running Man is a solid action film. However, it falls short of the high quality we know Edgar Wright can deliver. I hope Wright returns to his smaller, comedic roots, where his true strength lies, rather than churning out films it feels like any director could do.
What did you think of The Running Man?
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