Name: Retro Film Review: Night of the Running Man (1995)
Item: Night of the Running Man
Rating: 30
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

Ever since the times of Hitchcock, many thrillers were using, with more or less success, the formula of ordinary people caught in extraordinary situations. Night of the Running Man, 1995 low-budget thriller by Mark L. Lester, used the same concept. Its protagonist is Jerry Logan (played by Andrew McCarthy), ordinary cab driver from Las Vegas. One night he stumbles on the man who has just stolen million dollars from Mafia. That money ends in his possession, but Jerry has lived long enough in Las Vegas to know what happens to people who had crossed Mafia. He immediately starts planing to leave town. His fears are quite justified, because Mafia after him sends David Eckhardt (played Scott Glenn), their most brutal and sadistic, yet also very intelligent and capable hitman. Jerry is leaving Las Vegas, pursued by the man who stops at nothing in order to catch his prey.

Screenplay, written by Lee Wells, who had also written the novel, probably looked good on paper. It had believable, realistic characters and had potential for a thrillride that, unlike most of similar movies, doesn't insult viewers' intelligence. Unfortunately, that screenplay got into the hands of Mark L. Lester, director who had been unable to remedy its flaws nor enhance its advantages. Result is a formulaic thriller, cut into two half of different qualities - first part, which establishes the characters, is good, while the other one that deals with the actual plot, is bad. The actors are mostly effective – Scott Glenn is an excellent as mean, but efficient villain, and John Glover as his associate brings even some comic relief in this rather serious film. Unfortunately, the nominal lead in the form of Andrew McCarthy is rather uninspired. Also, the film is filled with some unnecessary subplots (including awfully implausible romance) and some sex scenes, which (unlike the scenes of naturalistic violence) are quite gratuitous. All in all, although it had good potential for being at least solid entertainment, Night of the Running Man is nothing more than justifiably forgettable piece of exploitation cinema.

RATING: 3/10 (+)