The Runner movie review

MOVIE TITLE: THE RUNNER

This thriller is now playing on Amazon Prime.

You can get a FREE trial on Amazon by clicking on this hyperlink

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 25 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B-

Featured Product About This Movie:

Need a great pair of supportive running shoes with a wide toe box so you can go the distance comfortably? I just bought my first pair of Hoka and love them!

IN A NUTSHELL:

Directed by Oscar-winner Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), this real-time action thriller follows Maia Marten (Gal Gadot), a high-powered corporate lawyer living in London. During her routine morning jog, her entire world is shattered by a frantic phone call informing her that her young son, Leo, has been kidnapped. The sinister voice on the line delivers a ruthless ultimatum: keep moving, follow every bizarre command, tell no one, and if she stops running, her son dies. Forced to sprint through London’s crowded streets and iconic landmarks while pulling off dangerous tasks on the fly, Maia must push her physical and mental limits in a desperate race against time to bring her child home alive.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Moderate action violence, physical altercations, and gunfire.

• Suspenseful child-in-peril themes that may cause anxiety for younger viewers.

• Brief bloody images and injury detail.

• Moderate foul language (including s-words, d-word, and milder profanities).

• Minor sexual references and suggestive photos

• Brief drug references.

• Flashing light sequences during city night scenes that may affect photosensitive viewers.

• Best suited for mature teens and adults; not recommended for young children due to high tension.

THEMES:

• A mother’s unconditional love and fierce determination

• Courage under extreme psychological pressure

• Trust, paranoia, and modern surveillance

• How far one will go to protect family

THINGS I LIKED:

• Gal Gadot delivers impressive athleticism and intense dedication, physically committing to sprinting through nearly every scene. She looks beautiful, as always, even when sweating.

• Kevin Macdonald keeps the pace energetic and propulsive, making London feel like an open-air maze with time constantly ticking away.

• Solid supporting performance by Damian Lewis, who brings a brooding gravitas to the tension.

• Visceral cinematography that makes you feel out of breath right along with the main character.

• We get to spend time in beautiful London!
• Some of the camera angles are…interesting.
• Clever twist.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• The plot relies heavily on absurd coincidences and a major suspension of disbelief regarding how city traffic, battery life, and high-tech tracking operate.

• The mysterious villain’s motives feel weakly developed and somewhat generic by the third act.

• Dialogue can be stiff and overly melodramatic during emotional peak moments.

• You’ll roll your eyes quite a few times.
• Plot holes
• Why do kidnapped kids always need Insulin? I know, I know. It ramps up the urgency. Still, it’s so predictable.

FUNNY LINES:

• “Rules are meant to be broken. This is the endgame.” – Anonymous Caller

INTERESTING LINES:

• “Keep moving, follow every command, and tell no one. Stop, and he dies.” – Anonymous Caller

• “A mother’s love isn’t something you can measure… and it’s certainly not something you can control.” – Maia Marten (Gal Gadot)

• “Fear is a greater motivator than love.” – Anonymous Caller

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

• Speed (1994)

• Run Lola Run (1998)

• Cellular (2004)

• Kidnap (2017)

WATCH THE Movie Review Mom YOUTUBE REVIEW WITH THIS LINK:

Coming soon!

@MovieReviewMom @TrinaBoice

Thank you so much for your financial support on Patreon!

Be sure to check out all of the gifts you can receive when you donate to Movie Review Mom on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/m/MovieReviewMom

Dr. Trina Boice is a university professor, author of 36 books, professional author coach, YouTuber, podcaster, film critic, and mom of 4 awesome sons.