The Runner Review: Prime Video’s newest original movie, The Runner, has a simple premise that we have seen many times over the last few years in one way or another – a mother is forced to run across London to save her kidnapped son and be at the beck and call of a crazed person on the phone. The film wastes no time getting to the point and jumps straight into the action the moment it starts off.
However, unfortunately for this Gal Gadot movie, there’s more to the story than what transpires on the screen, and the film will eventually leave you confused and dissatisfied with the payoff and how the events unfold. Starring Damian Lewis, Rory Wilmot and Alfred Enoch, along with Gadot, the 84-minute film is directed by Kevin Macdonald.
The Runner Review
A Race Against Time That Starts Strong
On paper, The Runner is a breathless race against time through the well-connected streets of London. The film, in that regard, wastes no time letting us know of Maia’s impossible situation and what’s at stake – she would go to the end of the world to save her kidnapped child. The instructions, too, are straightforward, although there’s a sinister undercurrent that we slowly understand as the movie goes on.
The ticking clock adds to the tension and excitement of watching what comes next for Maia, at least when you listen to the premise. Everything that she encounters, from the people on the street to phone calls, becomes an obstacle that she has to overcome. It’s interesting until it’s not, and the novelty that the film starts off with wears off after a while because it’s the same thing over and over again.
While it’s a good decision not to keep the protagonist chained to one location, adding to the thrill of her encountering something new at every turn, the film isn’t able to ground itself and add threats that make sense to the environment, rather focusing on twists that are both unnecessary and senseless.
Gal Gadot Does a Lot of Running
Storytelling aside, Gadot does a great job in the film. She’s constantly on the move, and while the film isn’t able to do a good job with its moving parts, the actor gives a committed performance that elevates the experience of watching the film. However, her performance falters when it comes to the emotional side of her character; we never see her terrified or emotional about everything that is happening to her and her son and, rather, she stays functional. While it’s not impossible, it’s still difficult to digest.
Damian Lewis is also great in his role, although viewers will find him a bit confusing considering he’s both omnipotent and limited in what he can do. It becomes clear throughout the runtime that the Caller’s technological skills are confusing at best and silly at worst, making him out to be smart and technologically savvy enough when the film needs him to be. It’s very convenient.
Lastly, viewers will find the setting to be the most memorable part of the film, with London’s beautiful, interconnected streets doing most of the heavy lifting. There are facets to the setting that make it both challenging and impressive, and, if nothing else, viewers will be able to enjoy how multi-faceted the challenges can be when out in the world.
The Thriller Becomes Too Predictable
The ticking clock formula isn’t new in thriller films, but there’s still a chance of using it in a way that leaves you breathless. Unfortunately for The Runner, the film becomes derivative as it is unable to exploit the central idea in a way that feels tense and fresh. The dialogue, too, echoes the same sentiment as it overexplains everything, taking away the thrill of understanding what’s happening on the screen.
Plus, the film is also far too convenient to feel fresh or new, as the twists that are added forcefully can feel extremely on the nose. It’s also designed in a way to force Maia to keep running instead of it coming into the story naturally. As a result, the film feels forced and confusing, rather than leaving viewers sitting on the edge of their seats.
The additional drama surrounding Maia’s life, too, feels underexplored and mostly irrelevant. While it’s a way to round out her character, I think the balance between the different parts of the movie is lacking, turning this into a jumble of scenes and situations rather than a cohesive flow.
The Action Doesn’t Always Deliver
While Gadot’s running is the central part of the film, there’s a general lack of shocking moments of natural action sequences that will catch viewers’ attention. The running becomes repetitive after a while, and after that we are only left with nothing but obvious situations that don’t have the punch to keep the adrenaline flowing. Maia improvising during her run and working with her environment is engaging and energetic, but the film’s camerawork and editing are too overdone considering there’s not enough action to back them up. As a result, the film feels more exhausting than anything else after a while, and it takes away from the thrill and anticipation.
This is more so evident when the film tries to make certain situations feel more urgent than they need to be. There’s a disconnect between the action that viewers are seeing and the frantic editing work that makes the film less tense and fulfilling. As a result, the disconnect between the film’s various moving parts results in an unsatisfying ending that doesn’t deliver on the promises that it makes. Some revelations are too rushed, while others don’t stick the landing because the groundwork is not done well. Its big ideas can’t fit into its 84-minute runtime, but at least it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Final Verdict
In the end, The Runner is a convenient action film that is confused about what its characters can and cannot do. The contradictions are aplenty, and there aren’t enough grounded and engaging sequences that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The novelty of watching Gadot running through the streets of London wears off quite quickly and, after that, it’s just one eye roll after another.
Watch The Runner movie on Prime Video right now. What are your thoughts on the film? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: