The Runner – Prime Video – 1 hour and 24 minutes
| Stream Only on Prime Video |
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Maia prepares for her run while her son, Noah, packs his school bag. She warns Noah to check his glucose level, and his app states it’s 96. Maia walks to school, then stops to answer a call from her co-worker Ted. He thought they had a connection after their date, but he stated he didn’t want kids. Maia tells him that they don’t have a future. She hangs up and starts her run. She outpaces other runners, enjoys the scenery, and ignores spam callers. Then, Maia gets a call from an unknown number. It’s from a man claiming to have Noah. Noah briefly talks to Maia before the caller takes over. He threatens to kill Noah if Maia doesn’t do what he tells her to do. Maia is an attorney who convinced Tafa to turn state’s evidence against Tommy Boyd. They believe Tommy killed two women, but their evidence was circumstantial until they had Tafa’s confession. The caller wants Maia to run to Tafa’s hotel and kill him. Tafa will testify today, and her associates moved up Tafa’s schedule. The caller gives her 1 hour to kill Tafa, or he will kill Noah. The caller will monitor her calls, location, and texts. If she does anything he disapproves of, like talking to other people, he will kill Noah. Will Maia make it in time?
This thriller has non-stop action with every perceived obstacle in Maia’s way. The first 10 minutes focus on the strong connection between mother and child and Maia’s phone glitch as the caller hacks into it. Then, we get a quick breakdown of her love life and work schedule before she goes on a run. For the rest of the film, Maia is on a mad dash to save Noah. During the run, Maia battles cars, trains, and thieves while the caller puts her through a psychological wringer. He analyzes her past to get into her mind, and you watch the caller mentally break her down. However, viewers will keep their eyes glued to the screen to see when she turns the tables. The final reveal shows how the plot foreshadowed the end while using camera angles to trick the audience. The reveal seems anticlimactic compared to the action, but it doesn’t feel cheap. Noah’s health condition adds pressure to the plot. The caller gave him a high dosage of medication, and she has the medicine to save his life. That added element is stronger than any weapon. The backing track and countdown ensure the viewer stays in Maia’s mindset. It’s a solid storyline with a flat ending.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
I’m not a killer – Maia
I’m never wrong. But I was wrong about you – Caller
Mom, I’m thirsty – Noah
Can I please just talk to them – Ted
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Categories: Alfred Enoch, Damian Lewis, gal gadot, movie, Prime Video, review, The Runner, VOD
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