EP 161: "THE RUNNING MAN" (1987)--"KILLER REALITY SHOWS" PART 1 OF 2!

With writers on strike (SUPPORT THE WGA!), we look to what studios turned to during the last strike--REALITY SHOWS! We start with the STEPHEN KING adaptation and ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER vehicle THE RUNNING MAN (1987)! Featuring a metric ton of pro-wrestlers, sports stars, future governors, and MARIA CONCHITA ALONSO, this flick about gladiator matches for convicted felons has plenty of madness to behold! Did we mention it's a documentary of DONALD TRUMP's future America?

"We'll be back!" on this week's episode of CULT and CLASSIC Films Podcast! Listen wherever you get your podcasts and at https://cultandclassicfilms.com/!

Next Week: "DEATHROW GAMESHOW" (1987)

Host: NATE WYCKOFF

Panelist: MANDY LONGLEY

More on THE RUNNING MAN (1987):

An Electrifying Combination of Action, Dystopia, and Social Commentary!
Released in 1987, The Running Man, directed by Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky from STARSKY & HUTCH), stands as a quintessential cult classic that continues to captivate audiences with its thrilling storyline and social commentary (and those classic Arnold quips!) Based on the novel by Stephen King that he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, this action-packed dystopian film envisions an oppressive future where a corrupt government controls every aspect of society (so, like now, but the future). In a world where the media is in bed with “celebritized” politicians, reality TV has taken a sinister turn with the creation of a deadly game show called "The Running Man." Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers a magnetic performance as Ben Richards, a former police officer wrongly accused of a massacre. Forced to participate in the sadistic game, Richards finds himself pitted against a group of ruthless stalkers, each with their own unique lethal skills (and each played by a WWE star, an NFL legend, or an opera-trained big guy!) With expertly choreographed action sequences and satirical jabs at the mesmerizing effect of mass media, The Running Man remains a thrilling ride that challenges societal norms and leaves audiences questioning the boundaries of entertainment and human dignity.