The Running Man is a dystopian thriller, which creates a bad image of the future in which the corporate system and media dominate everything. It is the tale of a desperate working-class man Ben Richards who has been made to take the blame of a crime he did not commit. With the strong hold being the dominant group in the society, the authoritarian media system called the Network, mass entertainment has become lethal spectacle. Richards agrees to take part in the violent game “The Running Man” in which the participants are hunted by hired killers all over the globe, and their survival is presented to the audience that is desensitized as entertainment. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a role that embodies the realms of grittiness and determination of a man who opposes the enveloping odds and his change over time as a powerless and a symbol of defiance is thrilling and heartfelt.
The tone of the movie is harsh and violent, as the action scenes are visceral, and they underline the dehumanization of the deadly game. The screenplay is a biting social satire on the evils of media sensationalism, propaganda and inequality in society. The dystopian environment is harsh and even anarchic, and it focuses on how the society is now desensitized to violence and injustice under the influence of the spectacle of death on the screen. The characters themselves, more so Ben and the anti-establishment activist Bradley Throckmorton, are symbols of hope and resistance in the face of a suppressive system. The climax of the film, when Richards struggles against the corrupt network, leaves the viewers excited and thinking about the position of media and power in developing the reality.
The greatest echo was the message behind the film that was truth and resistance. It criticizes the ability to weaponize entertainment to distract and manipulate, that people should not be complacent with authoritarian control. The passion theme of the story Ben struggling to defend his family and the underprivileged is what lends the film more than action scenes. All in all, The Running Man is a controversial and high adrenaline film that still holds the water in the present day and acts as a frightening example of how authority must be questioned and the role of the media in shaping society.
