Glen Powell Sprints Through Fun Update of Stephen King's Future-Shock Sci-Fi Satire in Edgar Wright's 'The Running Man'
Edgar Wright, the mastermind behind cult classics like 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz', has brought a new wave of excitement to the sci-fi thriller satire scene with his latest adaptation, 'The Running Man'. Based on Stephen King's 1982 novel under his pseudonym "Richard Bachman", this futuristic nightmare takes place in the year 2025 and stars Glen Powell as Ben, an ordinary man caught up in a dystopian world controlled by a powerful corporation.
Wright's direction is reminiscent of old-school sci-fi thrillers, with thrilling chase sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The film's punk aesthetic is also noteworthy, with underground rebels producing protest 'zines and a soundtrack that features classic rock hits like Spencer Davis Group's "Keep on Running".
Powell shines as Ben, an honest and hardworking guy who signs up for a reality TV show called 'The Running Man' in hopes of winning a billion dollars. However, he soon discovers that the shark-like fascist TV executives are not going to play fair. The film's wacky studio presenter, Bobby T Thompson (played by Colman Domingo), and producer Dan Killian (played by Josh Brolin) add to the satirical tone.
The film alludes to classic small-screen satires like 'Network' and 'Quiz Show', particularly in its early scenes that showcase the lesser programmes Ben could enter. However, Wright's adaptation takes a dark turn when it introduces AI-generated phoney videos to misrepresent Ben as a bad guy, highlighting an uncomfortable issue with digital fabrication.
Despite this twist, the film remains always watchable and buoyant, thanks to Wright's confident direction. The movie sometimes feels retro-futurist and steampunky, but that only adds to its charm. With Wright at the helm, 'The Running Man' is a fun update of Stephen King's classic novel that will leave you entertained and eager for more.
Edgar Wright, the mastermind behind cult classics like 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz', has brought a new wave of excitement to the sci-fi thriller satire scene with his latest adaptation, 'The Running Man'. Based on Stephen King's 1982 novel under his pseudonym "Richard Bachman", this futuristic nightmare takes place in the year 2025 and stars Glen Powell as Ben, an ordinary man caught up in a dystopian world controlled by a powerful corporation.
Wright's direction is reminiscent of old-school sci-fi thrillers, with thrilling chase sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The film's punk aesthetic is also noteworthy, with underground rebels producing protest 'zines and a soundtrack that features classic rock hits like Spencer Davis Group's "Keep on Running".
Powell shines as Ben, an honest and hardworking guy who signs up for a reality TV show called 'The Running Man' in hopes of winning a billion dollars. However, he soon discovers that the shark-like fascist TV executives are not going to play fair. The film's wacky studio presenter, Bobby T Thompson (played by Colman Domingo), and producer Dan Killian (played by Josh Brolin) add to the satirical tone.
The film alludes to classic small-screen satires like 'Network' and 'Quiz Show', particularly in its early scenes that showcase the lesser programmes Ben could enter. However, Wright's adaptation takes a dark turn when it introduces AI-generated phoney videos to misrepresent Ben as a bad guy, highlighting an uncomfortable issue with digital fabrication.
Despite this twist, the film remains always watchable and buoyant, thanks to Wright's confident direction. The movie sometimes feels retro-futurist and steampunky, but that only adds to its charm. With Wright at the helm, 'The Running Man' is a fun update of Stephen King's classic novel that will leave you entertained and eager for more.
! Edgar Wright did an amazing job with the direction, it's like a mix of old-school sci-fi and punk rock vibes 
. Glen Powell is awesome as Ben, he's got that relatable everyman feel to him. The satire is on point, I love how they're commenting on the issues with digital fabrication 
. It's not perfect, but Wright's confidence shines through and makes it a super entertaining watch 
. If you haven't seen it yet, defo give it a try! 
I think Edgar Wright did an amazing job with this adaptation! The way he mixed up old-school sci-fi elements with modern social commentary is so cool 
. Glen Powell is great as Ben, he has a likable everyman vibe that makes you root for him from the start 
. I loved how the film pokes fun at corporate culture and the way they manipulate people for entertainment value 
. The soundtrack is also on point, who knew Spencer Davis Group's "Keep on Running" would be so fitting? 
. I mean, who wouldn't wanna watch a reality show where contestants gotta survive in a deadly game? Wright's direction is on point, it's like old-school sci-fi, but with a modern twist 
! And can we talk about how relevant this movie is today, especially with the whole AI-generated fake news thing? Wright is a genius for tackling that issue head-on 
. And can we talk about the soundtrack? Spencer Davis Group's "Keep on Running" is like, the ultimate anthem for this movie! 
!
but what really gets me is how the film tackles digital fabrication in today's world - we're living in an era where fake news is a thing, and AI-generated videos are basically a reality now 
it's like king and wright knew this was gonna happen 40 yrs too early lololol. anyhoo, i'm down for more of this retro-futuristic fun 
. Edgar Wright's direction is so reminiscent of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, those were some of my fave movies growing up 
. And Glen Powell as Ben is perfect, he's got that relatable everyman vibe going on 
. The punk aesthetic in this film is also super cool, it's like they're saying "screw the mainstream" and embracing the underground scene 
. Overall, I'd say 'The Running Man' is a fun update that'll keep you entertained from start to finish 
.
. And Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin as the TV executives are just perfect, they add this level of absurdity to the satirical tone 
and I loved how they incorporated punk rock into the soundtrack. Glen Powell is awesome as Ben, he brings just the right amount of likability to the character. The whole thing feels super retro-futuristic, which kinda adds to its charm 
, Edgar Wright is pure genius when it comes to blending old-school vibes with modern twists! Glen Powell nails the everyman vibe as Ben, makes you root for him from start to finish 
. Glen Powell shines as the relatable everyman hero, and Colman Domingo brings that smooth-talking studio presenter vibe that's just too funny 
. I love how he's tackled the issue of digital fabrication in a way that's both thought-provoking and entertaining 
. I mean, Glen Powell's character Ben sounds like a total cliché - ordinary guy who gets caught up in a wild scheme to win a billion dollars? How original 
. I'd rather watch paint dry than sit through some cheesy reality TV show parody again. Edgar Wright's direction might be fun for some, but to me it just seems like he's rehashing old ideas instead of taking any real risks