The film The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright, highlights three distinct ways audiences can become deeply immersed in its narrative.
The Running Man is a chase action blockbuster centered on Ben Richards (played by Glen Powell), a man who, after being fired, must survive 30 days against brutal pursuers in a global survival program to win prize money.
The first pathway to deep immersion in The Running Man is through its participant.
Driven by anger at an unjust reality, Ben Richards enters The Running Man competition to fund his sick daughter’s treatment, eliciting audience empathy.
Despite continuous tyranny from “Network,” the corporation organizing the survival program, and facing extreme situations, Ben Richards consistently overcomes crises with relentless action.
This underdog narrative, rooted in family love and expanding into defiance against an unjust world, deeply resonates with audiences and garners praise.
The second type of immersion is through the public.
The Running Man competition is broadcast live via “FreeV,” a public program distributed by the monopolistic media corporation “Network.” It encourages public participation by offering rewards to those who report a participant’s location.
Audiences, naturally positioned to watch The Running Man competition, express amazement as they feel like part of the in-movie public, tracking Ben Richards’ exploits.
Audiences are reacting enthusiastically to director Edgar Wright’s ability to incorporate the act of viewing directly into the narrative.
The third type of immersion involves the film’s worldview.
The monopolistic corporation “Network” employs deepfake technology to broadcast distorted videos of Ben Richards, instilling a malicious image of the participant among the public.
This tactic, which transforms an innocent person into a public enemy, starkly exposes a dystopian reality where deepfake technology and media manipulation are normalized.
Manipulated footage and sensational information replace truth, and the public’s unquestioning absorption of visible information serves as a powerful warning in today’s AI-driven world.
Audiences resonate with the film’s profound reflections on reality.
The Running Man is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
Image source: Lotte Entertainment
