The 80s have become synonymous with lavish, cheesy sci-fi and action films that don’t take themselves too seriously, and more often than not starred a fresh-faced Arnold Schwarzenegger as a one-man wrecking ball in a collection of tight clothes and an arsenal of weapons. The Running Man is of that ilk, but this smart and sleek action sci-fi is one of the more accomplished films of this era of muscle-bound heroics because it has a mean streak. It’s cruel, and nasty, but playful, and features some cheesiness, bonkers tech, and a collection of the most memorable of Arnie quotes.
Paul Michael Glaser’s The Running Man is celebrating its 35th anniversary this month, and it’s by far his greatest (which isn’t a difficult task), but don’t let that detract from the fact that this is a compelling adventure film with high-octane action – even if it’s somewhat repetitive – and an atmosphere that’s filled with tension and emotion.
Set in a dystopian America, falsely convicted policeman Captain Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger) has a chance to achieve his freedom by participating in a cruel game show called ‘The Running Man,’ where convicts must battle a variety of killers to escape imprisonment. The game show is hosted by the wicked but charismatic Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), the show’s puppet master.
The scary thing about this film is that it represents real life to an extent, albeit with a chaotic futuristic setting. The colossal corporations in the film have turned human beings into expendable objects for enjoyment and entertainment, simply for the need of greedy satisfaction. Maintaining a power trip to line their pockets at the expense of the little guy — sounds familiar, right? However, the little guy fights back (even if Arnie is the biggest of the little guys) and it leads to the downfall of corporatism. Our current world is not quite at that level, of course, but The Running Man offers an exaggerated metaphor for what happens due to corporate wealth and exploitation.
The Running Man is a cross between Gladiators and Escape from New York, with even a little bit of Mad Max thrown in for good measure; a medley of cherished 80s entertainment in one gloriously vibrant thrill fest. While it might not be as good as those other films, it’s a decent addition to the collection. 80s action has a vibe that’s loved worldwide, and The Running Man epitomizes this wonderfully.
This film caters to Arnie’s talents and allows him to do what he does best. It’s far from a sci-fi classic, as it’s laden with inconsistencies, canyon-like plot holes, and some absolutely chaotic pacing. It also suffers massively from having too much scene and story establishment and not enough action, which is one of the reasons that the fight scenes become repetitive and far too brief.
What is impressive is how relevant The Running Man is in this day and age. A film that was created and bred for the 80s has developed a wonderful charm in its 35 years of existence. What’s the secret? Films of this era have a special resonance because they are the epitome of playful carnage, and that’s something that will never age. An attempt to recreate this film with a figure as beloved as Arnold Schwarzenegger in today’s world would be an impossible task because they just don’t make films like this anymore, and that is something to be admired and treasured.
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