The Running Man: Why This Movie Has Been Living in My Brain Rent-Free - *Movie Review

by Micaiah, professional overthinker, part-time movie reviewer, full-time processor

I’ve been meaning to write about The Running Man for a while now. I saw it when it first came out, and for some reason it never fully left my brain. You know how some movies entertain you for two hours and then politely exit your memory? This was not that kind of movie.

This one stayed.

I’m not ready to do movie video reviews on camera just yet, because talking to a camera feels like talking to myself, except strangers might watch it later, and that feels like pressure. Writing feels better becauseI can pause and I can think. I also can make sure I’m saying what I actually mean which gets mixed up sometimes when I have a lot to explain. So this is my official written review attempt.

First of all, the movie is intense. Not “I need to hide behind the couch” intense, but mentally intense. The whole concept of people being thrown into a high-pressure, survival-style competition for public entertainment is both dramatic and uncomfortable, on purpose.

And that’s one of the things I appreciated.

The movie doesn’t just show action, it shows what happens when entertainment goes too far and people become content instead of humans. Watching crowds cheer while someone is being hunted is supposed to feel wrong. It made me think about how society sometimes blurs the line between spectacle and reality. That part stuck with me. As someone who already overthinks systems and fairness, this movie gave my brain a lot to chew on.

The main character’s persistence also stood out to me. He’s constantly under pressure, watched, judged, chased, and expected to react instantly. I obviously have never been chased through a futuristic obstacle course, but I understood the pressure part. The expectation to respond quickly, to perform, to survive socially and mentally when everything feels fast. That felt relatable in a weird way.

The villains and exaggerated personalities were another interesting element. They were dramatic in an almost cartoonish kind of way, but it felt intentional. It was like the movie was saying, “Yes, this is over-the-top, and that’s the point.” I respect that. If you’re going to critique a system, sometimes you have to turn the volume up so people notice.

I will say this: I paused the movie a few times. Not because it was boring. Because my brain needed a second. A lot happens quickly, and I like processing things properly instead of just letting them rush by. That’s one advantage of watching at home because remote control equals emotional pacing control.

What really made the movie stay with me, though, was the theme of control. Who has it and who doesn’t. It also shows what happens when narratives are manipulated. It made me think about media, perception, and how easily stories can be shaped for public consumption.

That kind of theme tends to linger in my head for weeks.

Is the movie perfect? No. But I don’t think it’s trying to be perfect. It’s trying to say something and I respect movies that aim for meaning instead of just explosions.

Although there were explosions. Let’s not ignore that.

Overall, I’m glad I watched it. It challenged me in an entertaining kind of way and it slightly stressed me out in a productive way. And if a movie is still living in your thoughts long after the credits roll, I think that means it did its job. Maybe one day I’ll do video reviews. But for now, writing feels right. It lets me process before I present and that’s kind of how I do everything.

If you’ve seen The Running Man, I’d be curious what stuck with you. And if you haven’t, just know it might follow you around in your thoughts for a while.

Signed,Micaiah

Movie thinker, not just watcher.Slow processor, fast observer.Reviewing quietly… for now.