The Running Man (1987)
Whitey and Dan are back in the saddle for another dive into Arnold Schwarzenegger's golden era with their The Running Man (1987) Review, a dystopian action flick that predicted the rise of reality TV and the cult of celebrity with eerie accuracy. It's big, it's loud, it's absurdly 80s, and the boys are here for every neon-lit minute of it.
Released in the same year as Predator, The Running Man often sits in Arnie's shadow catalogue, but this week Whitey and Dan make the case that it deserves far more love. The film, adapted from a Stephen King novel (written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman), throws viewers into a violent future where convicted criminals fight for survival on a televised game show, because nothing says prime-time entertainment like watching people get chainsawed on live TV.
From the opening massacre in Bakersfield to Ben Richards' first "I'll be back" moment, Whitey and Dan take listeners on a nostalgia-soaked journey through the blood, the banter, and the bad outfits. They break down the stalkers, Buzzsaw, Sub-Zero, Fireball, Dynamo, and Captain Freedom and debate which death scene gets the best (and most ridiculous) send-off. Spoiler: chainsaws and balls don't mix.
Along the way, the boys give Richard Dawson his due credit as Damon Killian, the sleaziest game show host since, well, himself. As Whitey points out, Dawson essentially plays an exaggerated version of his Family Feud persona, a charismatic creep who can charm the crowd while stabbing them in the back. Dan draws parallels between modern-day media culture and the movie's grim predictions of audience addiction, fake news, and manufactured heroes, which feel alarmingly close to home.
There's plenty of banter too: stories about watching the film with their kids, reminiscing about the VHS days, and of course, a classic tangent on Australian childhoods versus American movie myths. Whitey marvels at Arnie's physical prime, the perfect blend of muscle and movie-star charm, while Dan compares the Austrian Oak's 1987 aesthetic to "a bag of walnuts, Arnie" in Predator. They even give props to the underrated soundtrack by Harold Faltermeyer and the bold (if slightly confusing) set design that feels part Blade Runner, part Rollerball fever dream.
The Film School for F-Wits segment delves into dystopian cinema, with Dan running through ten classics that share DNA with The Running Man, including Demolition Man, Gattaca, Children of Men, and 1984. Expect tangents, trivia, and typical Morgs-level shade directed at absent co-hosts.
As always, the boys bring the laughs with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. The good? Arnie's comedic timing and Richard Dawson's deliciously slimy performance. The bad? The script's dodgy one-liners, including the immortal “Subzero… now plain zero." The ugly? The shiny Lycra jumpsuits that make everyone look like they've escaped from a Eurovision rehearsal.
It's vintage Born to Watch: irreverent, nostalgic, and filled with 80s love. Whether you're an Arnie completist or just here for the banter, this episode proves that The Running Man still runs circles around most modern action flicks.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Should The Running Man be ranked among Arnie's all-time classics?
Did this 1987 gem actually predict the rise of reality TV?
Is Richard Dawson the sleaziest game show host in movie history?
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au
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