set in 2017 ( although one might easily mistake it for 1987 and judge by the hairstyle and clothing ) and the run man see all round good guy ben richards ( schwarzeneggar ) frame for a crime he do not commit . after a dare prison break and he be capture and enter a a contestant in the brutal tv game show the running man and along with some fellow escapee and the pretty token female and amber ( maria conchita alonso ) and . use by the totalitarian government a a way of control the mass and the show pit convict against a range of colourful ( and often quite camp ) opponent and each have his own unique kill style represent dynamo fire electricity from a special suit and buzzsaw us chainsaws and sub zero have a razor edge ice hockey stick and and fireball prefers a flamethrower to finish off contender . but these killer be no match for ben richards and who dispatch each one in a fittingly gruesome manner ( follow by the obligatory witticism ) . towards the end of the movie and ben join a group of freedom fighter in a battle against the authority and and get to exact revenge on the show nasty host and killian . twenty year ago and arnold schwarzeneggar rule the action movie universe and and to his legion of fan and he could do no wrong . the austrian beefcake have a successful formula that almost guarantee box office success for his movie represent comic book violence plus logic free plot plus pretty female sidekick plus witty one liner and minus act ability equal massive profit . the run man faithfully follow this blockbuster recipe to a t and arnie ( mostly male teenage ) audience lap it up ( myself include ) . now and two decade later and and have just finish re watch the movie for the first time in year and i find it a strange movie represent one totally devoid of technical merit and decent acting and and convincing effect and yet somehow totally entertaining . direct by paul michael glaser ( best know a det . dave starsky from cult 70 cop show and starsky and hutch ) and and adapt from a short story by stephen king ( write under the nom de plume and richard bachman ) and the running man be cheesy 80 tat that look both incredibly cheap and very dated and yet despite ( or maybe because of ) the film shoddiness and it have a special charm which be hard to describe . with no attempt at create a realistic near future setting and the film provide plenty of unintentional giggle . check out the scene in which ben discovers amber secret cache of forbidden cassette tape ( . ) while marvel at the crap futuristic graphic use on advertising billboard and the run man board game ( a a graphic designer and i find these particularly amusing ) while be amaze at the distinct lack of convince technological advancement . the run man may be utter rubbish and but it be hugely entertaining utter rubbish that i have no hesitation in recommend to fan of arnie and sci fi action in general .