‘The Running Man’ Is a Fun, Fast-Paced Ride With an Unfortunate Stumble

The pairing of director Edgar Wright telling a story from Stephen King is beyond exciting. One is known for electric, pulse-pounding films full of heart, humor, and action. The other is responsible for crafting the most provocative and terrifying stories of a generation. So, with The Running Man, it’s no surprise that so much about it works so well. What is a surprise is when, and how, it doesn’t.

Based on the 1982 novel by King, which was adapted by Wright and writer Michael…