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
12th Sep 2019
The Running Man (1987)
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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.
19th Nov 2016
The Running Man (1987)
Corrected entry: When Amber and Ben are at the airport, Ben holds up Amber's pass and the guard scans it. Seems kind of odd that the guard doesn't question Ben why he's using Amber's pass.
Correction: This isn't really a plot hole. The same guard simply lets Ben and Amber through when Ben starts holding up the line. Since this is Ben's entire plan, the movie is saying that security at the airport is somewhat lax because of disinterested guards, and everyone knows it.
12th Nov 2016
The Running Man (1987)
Corrected entry: Why go through the trouble of even bothering to shut down the deadline with the code when they could have just destroyed the sensors making up the perimeter?
Correction: It is never explained how exactly the deadline works, and it is never shown how durable the sensors are. Also, the plan to get the code was itself fairly simple.
28th Sep 2016
The Running Man (1987)
Stupidity: At the prison yard, when Weiss overhears that the sonic deadline was being deactivated to let new prisoners in, he manages to look at the deactivation code. The guard sees Weiss looking at the code and switches the computer off. If he had changed the code and informed another guard, none of the prisoners would have escaped.
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Suggested correction: The prison riot happens mere minutes after this. We don't know what it takes to actually change the password and whether or not the guards have the authority to do so. The real stupidity is why the guards would be using portable computers in full view of the inmates when they could easily walk on the other side of the deadline to do so.