Benjamin Richards is in a desperate situation. Poverty-stricken, unemployed, a sick child, and no hope in sight, Richards turns to the only savior he can think of: The Network. A notorious, exploitative, and mandated entertainment channel, The Network airs violent and death-heavy shows, including their top-rated series, The Running Man.
After a series of tests, Richards is chosen as a contestant on The Running Man, a series where he’ll be hunted by the world for 30 days; a timespan no one has achieved, and death can be handed out by anyone who spots the hunted.
Sound somewhat familiar? You’ve probably seen one of the film adaptations over the past 40 years, either 1987’s The Running Man with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Dawson, or the 2025 version with Glen Powell and Josh Brolin. While 1987’s version is a one-liner-filled classic that deviates heavily from the book, the 2025 version stays closer to the source material.
I enjoyed both films and was intrigued to read the book. One of the novel’s standout features is its constant racist overtones. This aspect is thankfully absent from the film versions, but it’s an odd choice by the author, since it adds nothing to the narrative and leaves the reader with mixed feelings about Richards.
What was also interesting was the variety of endings in each Running Man story. All three have wildly different finales, with the book having the darkest. I 100% understand why the filmmakers didn’t go with the novel’s ending; it would’ve been a good way to get the audience to turn against the movie pretty quickly.
Bachman/King presents a dystopian world where death, violence, and bloodlust have become a staple of reality TV. I feel that he was quite prescient about how reality TV audiences would demand more extremes the more they watched, and I think there have been many reality shows that have pushed the envelope over the past few decades.
While we aren’t to The Running Man yet, it’s clear that social media and our 24/7 news cycle have desensitized us to the violence that would be tolerated on all of the shows aired by The Network. How long before The Running Man is no longer a fictional show?
All three versions also provide commentary on how government control can easily distort a narrative and sway people toward one direction or another on an issue. Sadly, this has become a greater reality now more than ever, and one that has created a more divisive and polarized world.
The Running Man by Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King) is a fast-paced read I recommend to fans of the films or to those who prefer the original to the film adaptations.