The Running Man

The Running Man (1987)

3 mistakes since 22 Mar '18, 00:00

(4 votes)

Plot hole: There is no reason for the prison guards to use portable computers in full view of the inmates to input the sonic deadline code. The guards can walk outside of the deadline whenever they need to input the code, or radio the guard on the outside to lower and raise the deadline like they do when bringing the workers out. In fact, this plot hole is compounded by the presence of the guards stationed outside of the deadline with their own computer, which makes the guard inside the deadline completely unnecessary. The interior guard is only there so Weiss has a way to get both the code and a computer, but this prison set-up makes absolutely no sense.

BaconIsMyBFF

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Suggested correction: The point of having a portable on the outside and inside is in the case of an attempted prison break, if one of the computers is taken by the prisoners, the other can be used to prevent the deadline from shutting down. This was actually shown in the prison break scene where Weiss was unable to shut off the deadline with the inside computer was because the guards on the outside one were countering any attempts to close it.

That only explains why there is a guard outside with a computer. There is no reason to have a guard on the inside of the deadline with a computer. There can't be a prison break if there are no guards with a computer on the inside, the inmate's heads will explode if they cross the deadline.

BaconIsMyBFF

Continuity mistake: As Richards and Buzzsaw are trying to overpower each other with the saw between them, the angle of the saw changes between shots. First, it's over Ben's left shoulder, then over his right as Buzzsaw talks. Also, when Buzzsaw talks, you hear the saw revving, but the chain isn't moving.

Movie Nut

Continuity mistake: When people are walking into the building before you see where Amber lives, she is wearing her white robe and watches the news report that Richards shot the people at the airport at 'point blank range'. She says, "But that's not true!" and you can see Richards walking into the building wearing his work clothes at the bottom left corner. That scene had already been seen when Richards went to find his brother Edward, who lived in Amber's room previously. (00:27:53)

Dynamo: Thought it was pretty funny out there in the zone. What's the matter now, bitch? Why aren't you laughing?
Amber: Because there's nothing funny about a dickless moron with a battery up his ass.

More quotes from The Running Man

Trivia: When Killian is talking about the next possible contestant, he points out he's 120 pounds and wouldn't last 30 seconds. This is somewhat making fun of how they used Arnold Schwarzenegger to portray Ben Richards. In the book "The Running Man" (which has a very different structure), Ben Richards is described as "scrawny", the complete opposite of Arnold.

Bishop73

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Question: At the very beginning of the movie, Ben refuses to fire on anyone even though he was under orders to do so. I can understand him being court-martialed for this but, why would they alter the video to show him killing innocent people with orders not to? And why send him to prison for allegedly killing innocent civilians?

Answer: They needed a scapegoat, someone to blame. The government controlled the people through violence, but at the same time tried to convince the people the government was fair (i.e. Runners who made it through were given their freedom when in fact they never left the arena alive). The people at Bakersfield were still massacred (that part wasn't made up) by the government in order to control the riot, but just not by Ben. But people would just riot more if they knew the government ordered their killing, so the footage was faked to make people think Ben acted alone and against orders. And to continue the ruse, they convicted him to appease the people and prevent them from rioting.

Bishop73

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