Big Brother could learn something from this TV show!
A futuristic tale where the Earth has become a police-state, and the population get their kicks from watching a cruel game show called The Running Man, where contestants must try to survive a series of dangerous executioners.
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Ben Richards, once a members of the police, he was thrown out for not obeying an order to mow down a group of unarmed protestors. After being framed for the eventual riot massacre (the right-wing do love irony), and given the nickname the “Bakersfield Butcher”, Ben is thrown into a harsh work detail/punishment.
He manages to escape, along with a couple of buddies, and makes him attempt at freedom - only to be captured again. Ben is offered a choice, either he goes on The Running Man show, or his two friends will be forced to instead (his friends have none of the Arnie resilience or bulging man bumps). Grudgingly accepting, Arnie goes on the show in an attempt to win his freedom, but faces not only the hilariously cartoon-hero-like executioners with absurd names and gimmicks, but also the corruption of the game’s host, Damon Killian (Richard Dawson).
Vintage eighties dross, The Running Man has aged about as well as a Duran Duran album left in a bath of coke. The audio is absolutely awful - in places no actors are moving their mouths and yet the voices are still speaking, revealing the always controversial dubbing methods. The story spends too much time revealing the dastardly behaviour of Killian (whose offensively obvious name will make viewers blush), and not enough developing the journey of Arnie and his pals.
There is a couple of dance scenes using a bevy of leotard-clad beauties that seems to go on forever. This would have been an interesting, artistic addition to some films, but in an action/horror it seems outrageously pointless.
Difficult to watch throughout The Running Man will probably receive cult status, if only for its awfulness…And, it’s a bloody Stephen King novel!!!
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