One of the most definitive Arnie movies

Mere months after Predator hit cinemas in mid-1987, action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger was back in action for The Running Man. Loosely based on the novel by Stephen King (under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman), this is a fast-paced, futuristic action film which satirises television, greed, social injustice, and America's preoccupation with violence and game shows. Furthermore, it's chock-full of '80s goodness: bad hair, worse clothing, and abundant neon. On this note, The Running Man is one of the most definitive Arnie movies of its decade - it contains requisite violence, bad puns, cheesy one-liners, hammy acting and, of course, the star's signature catchphrase, "I'll be back." Although dated in some respects, there is an irresistible, goofy quality to The Running Man which keeps it enjoyable and fun in 2020.

In the year 2019, the global economy has collapsed, and America is a military-controlled police state which dictatorially controls television, movies, art, books and communication. The most popular thing on TV is a lurid game show called The Running Man, which features convicted criminals fighting for their freedom by facing a rogues gallery of heavily-armoured 'stalkers.' These gladiatorial confrontations occur in decrepit L.A. city streets while an enthusiastic studio audience watches the live broadcast. Schwarzenegger plays Ben Richards, a government pilot who's wrongfully framed for the mass murder of innocent civilians protesting for food. The sleazy host of The Running Man, Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), blackmails Richards into volunteering for the show, and the chase is on. But as Richards begins to fight back, and survives far longer than any previous contestant, he rapidly develops into something of a national hero. "Hey, Killian. I'll be back," Richards states before being launched into the arena. "Only in a rerun," is the host's response. Yeah, right...

In adapting the novel, screenwriter Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard, Commando) respects the source material while simultaneously forging his own path, with the finished film only vaguely resembling King's literary work. Primarily designed as a star vehicle for Arnie, The Running Man showcases the Austrian Oak fighting his way through a variety of gaudy combatants, who carry chainsaws and flamethrowers, and have names like Buzzsaw, Fireball, Dynamo and Subzero. Similar to Commando, de Souza also supports Schwarzenegger with a gutsy female side-kick/love interest (played by María Conchita Alonso) and ample macho one-liners. The script satirises contemporary TV trends, particularly in relation to the way that the government and corporations placate the oppressed masses through mindless, escapist mass media. Other satirical elements also raise laughs, such as Richards getting a court-appointed theatrical agent after his arrest. This social commentary is not fully-formed, nor is it revolutionary, but it does give the mayhem a bit more gravitas than your usual Arnie fare. Just do not expect something as thought-provoking as Network or The Truman Show.

Despite the thoughtful themes, The Running Man is a predictably silly movie. It is baffling, for instance, that the cameras recording the titular game show capture the action from implausible cinematic angles - the show cuts between close-ups and wide shots, yet no cameramen are ever visible. Furthermore, there is no explanation for the existence of footage showing Richards in the helicopter when he is framed. But these points are minor and not overly niggling, since this is a big dumb Arnie movie, and suspension of disbelief is a requirement. It is interesting, however, that The Running Man managed to mock this brand of reality/game shows before they started in earnest. After all, the titular program is merely Survivor with weapons, and the short-lived TV show Manhunt in 2001 involved contestants being pursued by bounty hunters with paintball guns. The Running Man's premise also inspired action films like The Condemned and Gamer.

The dystopic vision of Los Angeles here takes inspiration from the likes of Blade Runner and Escape From New York, and the special effects are convincing enough considering the movie's age. Nevertheless, aspects of the production are terribly dated, such as the laughable technology - bulky CRT TVs, audio cassette tapes, low-grade computer graphics, and computers which amount to DOS terminals. And, of course, '80s fashion trends are all over the screen, with kitschy leotards and ridiculous hairstyles. The synth/electronica score by Harold Faltermeyer does show its age, and some awful '80s pop garbage pollutes the soundtrack as well, but there is an inherent charm to all of these elements which makes The Running Man so entertaining. Director Paul Michael Glaser (best known for playing Starsky in TV's Starsky and Hutch) capably stages the action sequences with requisite energy, though this is not a uniquely stylish sci-fi feature. Nevertheless, the pacing is quick, the action is comprehensible, and the film is violent as hell, which is all that matters in the realm of Schwarzenegger vehicles.

The Running Man is a grab-bag of sensationally corny Arnie one-liners, as the Oak always has something sly to say before or after killing somebody. He is not a great actor, and there is some unintentional hilarity to the dramatic moments (see the opening in the helicopter), but the bodybuilding behemoth delivers one-liners with gusto, and has charisma to spare. Also of note is Richard Dawson, the long-time host of Family Feud, who emanates malice and charm as the movie's primary villain. Indeed, his real-life game show experience renders him perfect for the role of The Running Man's smarmy host. Surprisingly, despite his terrific work here, this was Dawson's last appearance in a big-screen feature film. Meanwhile, colourful performers fill out the supporting cast, with Arnie's Predator co-star Jesse Ventura even appearing as one of the fan-favourite stalkers. The actors are all effective, though none of the performances are exactly awards-worthy.

All things considered, The Running Man is a mid-tier Schwarzenegger vehicle, which is unable to reach the heights of The Terminator or Predator. Although satire does supplement the action scenes, the film does not have any pretensions about being more than what it is: an overblown, cheesy, fun-as-hell comic-book-style action movie with a side order of black comedy. There is some appalling dialogue, it's formulaic/predictable as hell, and the ending seems rushed, but it's always an entertaining watch. As long as you appreciate '80s cheese, and can accept that is not sophisticated sci-fi, The Running Man is great, goofy fun, and worth 100 minutes of your time. All the greatest science fiction movies stand the test of time, and The Running Man manages to do so - it works even better in 2020 than it did back in 1987.