I'm a huge fan of director Mark L. Lester's early movies CLASS OF 1984 and COMMANDO, but his subsequent career has been hit and miss. The good news is that NIGHT OF THE RUNNING MAN is one of his better movies, a suspense thriller which doesn't let up until the very end. Sure, the story is a little unbelievable and the style can get rather cheesy, but the most important thing is that this is entertaining from beginning to end.
Andrew McCarthy is rather underwhelming as the innocent taxi driver who ends up with a case full of money and a hitman on his tail. The thing that makes the movie is Scott Glenn as the aforementioned hitman. He's absolutely superb in the film and manages to be one of the most imposing bad guys of the decade; every scene with him is packed with tension. Elsewhere, there are great set pieces, particularly the dam and the boiling water scene. Lester is on form here and keeps the suspense going until the final, violent climax.
Andrew McCarthy is rather underwhelming as the innocent taxi driver who ends up with a case full of money and a hitman on his tail. The thing that makes the movie is Scott Glenn as the aforementioned hitman. He's absolutely superb in the film and manages to be one of the most imposing bad guys of the decade; every scene with him is packed with tension. Elsewhere, there are great set pieces, particularly the dam and the boiling water scene. Lester is on form here and keeps the suspense going until the final, violent climax.