The film adaptation of Richard Bachman’s (better known as Stephen King’s) novel “The Running Man,” released in 1987, offers a unique take on the story with many changes.
Near the beginning of King’s career, he wrote under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman to hide his identity, but when his books became popular, he started writing under his real name.
“The Running Man” novel was produced under the Bachman name in 1982. The book was also included in a set called “The Bachman Books,” which contained King’s most popular books written under the pseudonym, including “The Running Man,” “The Long Walk,” “Rage” and “Roadwork.”
The film adaptation of the novel was released on Nov. 13, 1987, and was directed by Paul Michael Glaser. The film made $38 million at the box office in the United States.
Both the book and the movie depict Ben Richards, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film version, in a dystopian United States in which people are restricted to watching the games network that only airs harmful competitions. The network chooses contestants based on who would make the best television and often choose criminals and poor people. After not being employed, Richards has a try at the show “The Running Man,” in which the contestants must survive different challenges in order to win the grand prize of $1 million.
One of the main differences between the book and the movie is Richards’ reason for joining the games. In the book, Richards is the dad of an 18-month-old child who has pneumonia. With no job, he has no way of getting her medicine, so he decides to enter the games in hopes of winning money for his wife and daughter.
In the movie, however, the reason Richards joins the games is because he was falsely convicted for shooting into an unarmed crowd while he was in the military and is running from the police. Once caught, instead of sending him to prison, they take him to the games, saying that, if he wins them, he will be free.
Another difference between the book and the movie is how “The Running Man” game is organized. The book’s rules of the games are that Richards has to survive 30 days while being hunted by society, but he is allowed to travel across the United States. The network entices viewers to call the network if they spot Richards for a cash prize.
In the movie, the rules of the games dictate that Richards, along with two of his comrades from the military, must survive a gauntlet. They are being hunted by humans who have robotic enhancements or are armed with weapons. Live audience members of the show are asked to choose a hunter they think will defeat Richards and, if correct, they can earn prizes.
The endings of both versions of the story are also quite different – although you will have to read the book and watch the movie to see how! But, the different endings show the morals of Richards as a character. In the book, Richards is a lunatic who does not care what he must do to get the money for his family. He has little morality when it comes to other people. The only time that he reflects on his decisions is when he stays at a person’s house; that person helps him flee but gets injured during that and later passes away. Richards mourns the death, as it was the reason he survived that encounter.
In the film, Richards is a lighthearted guy who only wants the best for people. He helps those stuck in the gauntlet with him to survive and mourns those who do not make it.
Overall, both versions are enjoyable, but in unusual ways. The book’s biggest strength is that it added some suspense. The first chapter started at 99 and ticked down with each chapter, leading to unease about what was to happen when it hit zero. The movie version of the story seems like it was adapted to fit Schwarzenegger for the main character rather than sticking to the book, but it is still suspenseful.
I would recommend both the book and the movie. However, I would not watch the movie with the hopes of it being exactly the same as the book. The movie has a uniquely different story than the novel, but it is still entertaining. Both the book and the movie are good, and I have high expectations for the newest adaptation of the novel.
