The Running Man, praised for Edgar Wright's characteristically rhythmic direction, Glen Powell's explosive action synergy and its lingering message, revealed three types of over-immersion.
#1 If I were a contestant on the "The Running Man" show, could I survive?
Full of backstory, "Ben Richards" makes you want to cheer!
The first is the type that becomes overly immersed in a contestant. Filled with anger toward an absurd reality, "Ben Richards" jumps into the "The Running Man" show to raise money for his sick daughter's treatment, evoking the audience's sympathy. Despite the constant tyranny of the conglomerate "Network" that runs the survival program and the extreme situations, "Ben Richards" breaks through crises with relentless action at every moment.
This underdog narrative, which starts with familial love and expands into a counterattack against an absurd world, deeply resonates with audiences, drawing praise such as "The struggle of a breadwinner risking his life and running to survive for his family was striking" (CGV_엔젤****) and "I don't think I could run and survive like the protagonist... but of course 'Ben Richards' can!" (Instagram_da****).
#2 Am I also part of the audience for the "The Running Man" show?
A masterful direction that actively prompts viewing and induces over-immersion!
The second is the type that immerses in the public. The "The Running Man" show is broadcast live through the public program "Pri-V" distributed by the conglomerate "Network", which monopolizes media power, and its system of rewarding people who report a participant's location encourages active public participation. Audiences, who naturally find themselves in the position of watching "The Running Man" show, express amazement at feeling as if they themselves have become part of the public in the film while following "Ben Richards"'s exploits.
Audiences have reacted strongly to Edgar Wright's direction that draws the act of viewing itself into the narrative, leaving comments such as "The moment we cheer for the person running, we are already the show's audience. A social satire show where those who enjoy it are crueller than those who run" (CGV_엄****) and "Even I who came to see this eventually..." (CGV_너구****).
#3 A world view that shows reality as it is!
Edgar Wright's strike in the AI era!
The third is the type that immerses in the world view. The monopolistic corporation "Network" transmits distorted videos of "Ben Richards"'s speech and actions through deepfake technology, implanting a malicious image of the contestant in the public. Such moves to make an innocent person a public enemy lay bare a dystopian reality in which deepfakes and media manipulation have become commonplace. Manipulated images and sensational information replace truth, and the public's uncritical absorption of visible information serves as a wake-up call in today's AI era, delivering a powerful message.
Regarding the world view that faithfully reflects reality, audiences left comments such as "I liked that it mixed criticism of mass media's critical consumption with action" (Naver_ju****) and "This is the most shocking movie I've seen recently. It makes you think that what you see isn't everything" (Megabox_ze****), showing sympathy for the film's heavy aftertaste.
The Running Man, delivering dopamine-packed action through Edgar Wright's characteristically rhythmic direction and Glen Powell's all-out performance, is a chase-action blockbuster in which unemployed family man "Ben Richards" (Glen Powell) participates in a global survival program where he must survive for 30 days against brutal chasers for a huge prize.
[Photo] Lotte Entertainment
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