Blog #34 Runaway Movie Review

Image 1 Runaway 1984 – MOVIE TRAILER – YouTube

Release Date December 14, 1984

Directed and written by Michael Crichton

Starring

Image 2 Ramsay saves baby from bad robot

Tom Selleck played Ramsay, also a bit part of Sean Murphy in Coma 1978, played Cornelius in Meet the Robinsons 2007,

Cynthia Rhodes played Thompson, also an ensemble dancer in Xanadu 1980

Image 3 Gene Simmons Wallpapers – Wallpaper Cave

Gene Simmons played Luther, Mr. Simmons also played Maax in 2 episodes of Robot Chicken 2006-2008, also as Hector Leachman for 1 episode of Millenium 1998, as Mr. Big in 1 episode of The Hitchhiker 1986, also co-lead singer of Kiss early 1970-2023.

Image 4 Lt. Saavik – Kirstie Alley by TenkaraStudios on DeviantArt

Kirstie Alley played Jackie, also played Savvik in Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn 1982, also played Dr. Susan Verner in village of the Dammed 1995,

Stan Shaw played Marvin, Mr. Shaw was also in 1 episode of the new Quantum Leap 2023 as Eli Jackson, 1 episode of the X-Files 2002 as Stephen Murdock, 1 episode as Ollie Dawson of Future Cop 1977, as Parker in Lifepod 1993 and as Detective Sapir in Monster Squad 1987.

Music by Jerry Goldsmith, also composed much Star Trek , Congo 1995, Forever Young 1992, Total Recall 1990, Alien Nation 1998, Innerspace 1987, Outland 1981, Coma 1978, Logan’s Run 1976, Twilight Zone 1959-1964,

Budget $8 million

Box Office $6,770,587 (USA)

Plot

Image 5 Runaway (1984) – A Review The bad boy invention of Luther

Ramsay is a police officer in the future of 1991. This officer is part of the ‘runaway’ squad that deals with malfunctioning robots. They malfunction all the time. One robot gets a hold of a gun, shoots two people, and runs around the house where a baby cries in its crib. Another is an agriculture robot running all over the place. Ramsay gets a new partner named Thompson, and they investigate and take care of these runaways. At one point, Ramsay has to operate on Officer Thompson, who has been shot with an explosive bullet made by Luther. Ramsay knows the robot surgeon messes up a lot, so he does the delicate work. Ramsay has trouble with heights, which leads to issues when the bad guy, Luther, kidnaps Ramsey’s son, and Ramsey has to go to an open-air, tall building. The story climaxes with the creepy robot spiders coming to get him.

Positives

The actors do well. Gene Simmons, as Luther, is delightfully evil. The fact that there are so many futuristic, wonderfully helpful robots, but you look closer, and they malfunction, which causes dangerous problems even before Luther takes control, is humorous. I liked the home scenes of Ramsay and his son, Bobby. Their robot, Lois, is very warm and takes care of the domestic routines, including managing Bobby. Ramsay trusts Lois, but she is no match for Luther’s ruthlessness. Ramsay’s acrophobia is an interesting problem when Ramsey has to rescue his son.

Image 6 Runaway (1984) Jackie held hostage by machines

The special effects are quite good, both with the average robots and the diabolical inventions of Luther.

Negatives

The film, in general, is dated. The science is dated. The plot is routine. In this story, an evil man takes over the robots and has them do bad things. This is not good, of course, but it should be noted that we do have malfunction problems with our robots and the potential for much worse, both from poor programming and others programming the robots badly on purpose. Some experts warn this is truly around the corner. Heaven help us if the robots become sentient; the level of danger skyrockets.

Reception

It probably would have been a major science fiction draw in 1984 but it was competing with The Terminator, Star Trek II, The Search for Spock and 2010. It did not fair well.

Conclusion

I find the movie fun to watch, but the technical aspects may turn away some viewers. That is the problem with older movies in the science fiction genre. The problems it illustrates are right on point, and the audience can see that even with older models of computers and robots, the dangers are high. While I don’t think this is on the top tier, I consider it worth watching.

Places to watch

Apple TV From $3.99

YouTube From $3.91

Google Play Movies $3.59

Tubi https://tubitv.com/search/runaway Free with ads

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaway_(1984_American_film)

2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000633/ & https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077355/

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Rhodes

4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005430/

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirstie_Alley

6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000025/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr