Slate Daily Feed Culture Gabfest: Glen Powell Does The Running Man Edition
Nov 19, 2025
The hosts dive into Edgar Wright's adaptation of The Running Man, exploring its blend of wit and bleakness. They discuss its emotional engagement and critique of media in today's fragmented world. Shifting gears, they analyze Netflix's Death By Lightning, praising strong performances but critiquing its writing and historical framing. Finally, they marvel at Rosalía's ambitious album LUX, highlighting its operatic elements and immersive experience. Curious listeners are invited to submit their cultural queries for an upcoming call-in show!
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Episode notes
Style Versus Substance Clash
- Edgar Wright blends jaunty visual style with bleak dystopia, creating a discordant tone that both charms and undercuts the story.
- That mix makes the film smart and funny but leaves its darker themes feeling unresolved and corrosive.
Cynicism Drains Emotional Stakes
- The film's pervasive cynicism leaves little to root for, making its action feel exhausting rather than exhilarating.
- Steve Metcalf argues the irredeemable world and unconvincing family undercut emotional stakes.
Too Close To Home, Too Outdated
- The Running Man feels eerily close to present media realities, losing futuristic predictive power and feeling partly dated.
- Alison Wilmore's critique: it's both too on-the-nose and also a relic left behind by shifting media forms.
