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The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

The Running Man
By: Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)
My Rating: THREE out of 5 Stars
Best For: 18 and up (for extreme violence, strong language, sexual content, and highly offensive language)

The Running Man: Exciting. Prescient. Profane. A True Dystopian Thriller

Before “The Hunger Games,” before reality TV, (but AFTER “The Most Dangerous Game”) there was Richard Bachman’s (Stephen King’s alter ego) “The Running Man.” It’s a disturbing (and unfortunately) enthralling cautionary tale, a chilling prediction that resonates even more strongly in our age of political turmoil, social media, and reality overload. My interest was particularly piqued when I saw the story, written in 1982, takes place in the far distant, unimaginable future: the year 2025…

In a decaying and oppressive America of 2025, The Network reigns supreme. This monolithic entity controls every aspect of life, providing the populace with “Free Vee”—a constant stream of propaganda and violent entertainment—to keep them docile and distracted. The Network preys on the desperate and downtrodden, selecting individuals from the lowest rungs of society to participate in their deadly reality shows. These games, designed for the amusement of the masses, offer a slim chance at wealth in exchange for a near-certain death. Ben Richards, a desperate father with a sick daughter, finds himself considering The Network as his only chance. With no other options, he enters himself for consideration, and after days of invasive mental and physical testing is “invited” to participate in their most dangerous and lucrative game: “The Running Man.” This is no mere game show; it’s a month-long, televised manhunt across America where Richards must evade “Hunters”—ruthless killers employed by The Network—while the entire population of the United States watches on their Free Vee, eager to turn him in for a reward.

Dead or alive.

I must admit, “The Running Man” was compelling. It was engaging and exciting, and I appreciated its prescient commentary on media and society. It was especially eerie to realize this was 1982 Steven King making his best guesses about 2025! But…the content was harsh. It didn’t start off that way. For the first 30% or so, I thought this was going to one of those rare SK books where I didn’t have to worry about the big three: language, sex, and violence. But no. It’s all in there, dialed up to the max.
As if that wasn’t enough, the novel is packed full of powerful racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language and perspectives—I was shocked. Clearly, Steven King didn’t have much hope for our 2025 selves. And while one could argue these elements are important to the tone and setting of the story—a deeply broken and brutal future—they can be extremely hard to read and potentially triggering. So. Go in with your eyes wide open.

King released 4 books as Richard Bachman between 1977 and 1982, and they’re all dark and despairing. “Rage” was the first of them, but King let it go out of print in the 90’s when the school shootings it describes stopped being fictional. “The Running Man” crafts a chilling vision of media manipulation and societal decay—which, surprisingly, King got right. The novel explores themes of desperation, survival, and the corrosive influence of unchecked power. The tension is almost unbearable as Richards’s situation deteriorates, and the ending is both bleak and powerful. The book’s social commentary is sharp, highlighting the dangers of mass delusion and the exploitation of the vulnerable.

The pacing is brisk, making it a gripping read. It’s a lean, mean thriller, far removed from the more sprawling works of King’s later career. While the ending might not satisfy everyone, and the content pushed my limits of tolerance, the journey is undeniably intense and thought-provoking.

Sensitive Content:

• Very strong language.
• Strong, graphic violence. (I still can’t get the image of a character snagging his dangling intestines on the furniture while trying to move while holding in his guts…)
• Sexual content. (Not graphic descriptions, more blatant disregard for women, sex, and body functions)
• Very strong and offensive racist, homophobic, misogynistic words and descriptions.

Should you read it?

If you are prepared for the extremely difficult content and appreciate dystopian thrillers with strong social commentary, “The Running Man” is a relevant and thought-provoking story. However, due to the intense and highly offensive content, it is not for everyone.

This Dad says “The Running Man” is best for 18 and up.

Happy Reading!