At first you think there’s no way you’re going to be able to empathize with the plight of the protagonist in The Runner. After all, California teen Aiden (Edouard Philoppannot, House of Gucci) is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed pretty boy, tousled hair falling just so down the sides of his face. And he’s rich, a kid of privilege who never really worked for much that he’s been given.
Instead, Aiden is continually in trouble with the law – drug use, small-time dealing, etc. The kid is a troubled soul wrapped in a pretty package, but he also doesn’t seem like he’s worth a damn, though his doting Mom isn’t ready to give up on him. Except, um, she has turned him over to the police to try to straighten him out.
The police want him to be a confidential informant and help them reel in a much bigger drug dealing fish. That villain, played by Eric Balfour, does a quietly amazing job of being super menacing presence. I kinda wish he’d had more screen time, but he really leaves an intimidating imprint.
So that’s the set up – the dilemma. Can Aiden do what the hardcore and pushy detective (Cameron Douglas) wants him to do, namely wear a wire to take down the dangerous thug- or will Aiden’s own addiction and depressing flashbacks to a tragic past with his then girlfriend keep him from figuratively pulling the trigger?
And, yes, somehow we end up hoping for the best for Aiden- it didn’t seem possible ninety minutes before. So credit to director Michelle Danner and screenwriter Jason Chase Tyrrell for making us care, though they take one or two too many trips to the Aiden vs. Detective interactions.
The Runner achieves what it’s going for, and in the movies, that’s considered a success.
In Theaters August 19 & on Digital and Demand August 23 | Rated R | 3 out of 4 Stars | Saban Films
