Review of 'The Running Man'

With the new (2025) remake of this film/story I thought it would be good to have a look the 1987 “original” of “The Running Man”.

We are told that in the year 2017 (!) the world economy has collapsed and the US is now a police state with the media tightly controlled. Police officer Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is flying a helicopter to a food riot but rebels when told to fire on the unarmed civilians. A few months later in prison he escapes along with technician Weiss (Marvin J. McIntyre) and fighter Laughlin (Yaphet Kotto). Their explosive security collars are removed by the resistance. After returning to his bother's apartment in Los Angeles, he learns his brother has been captured with the apartment now occupied by feisty Amber Mendez (Maria Conchita Alonso). Forcing her to help him acquire a travel pass at the airport she shouts to the police and escapes from Ben who is then captured. The slimy Damon Killian (Richard Dawson) is the host of the popular “Running Man” television show which features “stalkers” - gladiators armed with lethal high-tech weaponry - who track down and kill prisoners in a massive arena consisting of 400 blocks of city earthquake ruins. Damon convinces Ben to join the games by promising to spare his two friends but when Ben is strapped into the vehicle to take him into the game Damon reveals his two friends are joining him after all. As Damon is about to press the button to drop them to their fate Ben growls “I'll be back”…Subzero (Professor Toru Tanaka) - a maniac on ice with a lethal hockey stick, is coming for them.

This film, based on a story by Richard Bachman (or, as you know him, Stephen King) sort of feels like a TV movie with it's simple soundtrack and staging though not with it's visceral violence and swearing. Even for the time it was built it does look a bit low budget with simple effects and heavy-handed morality. This is obviously a parody of the evils of a totalitarian state but it is taken to such extremes it is a bit tiring (there is some blatant sexism that may also trouble modern viewers). But those watching this film will probably not care too much about this as it is all about action - How is the underdog going to win over the might of the state…preferably in the most violent way possible? There are quite a few predictable twists here but generally the story is by the numbers…though there are some imaginative action sequences that keep viewers entertained. Indeed the action and story really never lets up in the relatively short 1 hour 45 minute running time.

This is one of Arnie's first films and he is at the top of his game with the incredible, violent action, quotable lines and massive muscles (he was Mr Universe after all). Damon is played by Richard Dawson which many US TV fans will remember as the original host of game show “Family Feud” so plays completely to type but as a far less likeable role.

One of the first “big” action flicks from Schwarzenegger, “The Running Man” is, perhaps a bit dated now but it still has some interesting (if quite violent) action sequences and never stops…Turn the brain off and take it all in.

Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2025-11-09

Directed by: Paul Michael Glaser

Studio: TAFT Entertainment Pictures

Year: 1987

Length: 101 minutes

Genre: Action/Adventure

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093894/