The Running Man

Powell doesn't have the depth to dig deeper than he does; neither does the film. Soon enough, it becomes a drag, and stays that way.

The resulting film is never anything but likable and fun – though never actually disturbing in the way that it's surely supposed to be and the ending is fudged and anticlimactic. Yet there's plenty of enjoyment to be had. Wright accelerates to a sprint for some full-tilt chase sequences; there's a nice punk aesthetic with protest 'zines being produced by underground rebels; and Wright always delivers those sugar-rush pop slams on the soundtrack.

The strongest parts of the movie are the parts when the running man, you know, runs. Wright, who directed Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz as well as Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, has a good feel for offbeat action... The final act doesn't feel as sharply focused as the rest (which is true of the book, also), but if you like your dystopias with a dose of high octane, you'll probably have a very good time.

It's better than Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1987 version, but King's prophetic tale of violence-as-entertainment-as-control has little future shock left.