Bullet Points: The Runners

Uncork’d Entertainment has just released The Runners on VOD and DVD. I had the pleasure of viewing an advanced copy, and I’m here to tell you if you should walk, jog or sprint to your nearest VOD app, or if you should run away from The Runners as fast as humanly possible.

• The Plot: Ryan and Zoe lose their parents in a tragic car accident. Fast forward ten years later, and Ryan is the responsible big brother, and Zoe is the rebellious teenager. All goes to hell when Zoe is kidnapped after a night of partying. It is now up to Ryan to find his sister and bring her home. Think Taken meets Last Blood.

• Having your eggs in more than one basket: The Runners is directed by Joey Loomis and Micah Lyons. Both also star in the movie. Micah is the hero, Ryan. Joey plays the heel, Marty. Micah wrote the screenplay. Joey is the editor and does the visual effects. These fellas are busy. That’s a lot of areas to be responsible for. I’m not saying The Runners is a perfect movie, but Micah and Joey deserve credit for their hard work and effort. 
• The Guest Stars: In one corner we have movie star, Tom Sizemore. He plays a preacher. He has a little bit more screen time than he did in Point Break. He plays the type of preacher you would expect Tom Sizemore to play. It is always nice to see him acting. In another corner we have television star, Glenn Morshower. He is most famous for his role as Aaron Pierce on 24. He’s a deputy, and he looks a bit buzzed. Perhaps, he borrowed some liquor from the other guest star, county singer superstar, Neal McCoy. Now, Mr. McCoy is the sheriff. He looks like he’s never met a tanning bed he didn’t like. Neal and Glenn only have a couple of scenes, but they have great banter with each other. I believe the guest stars are used wisely in The Runners.

• Human Trafficking: While The Runners isn’t action packed throughout, the plot has a lot of meaning. Human trafficking is one of the worst crimes imaginable. It is disgusting. When Zoe is kidnapped by the traffickers, you feel so bad for her. Bravo to The Runners for tackling such a gritty subject. At times, The Runners is so damn sad. We all need to educate ourselves, and maybe one day, we might notice something that’s not quite right, and perhaps, we can stop something tragic from happening. 
• Kooter: The Runners isn’t all doom and gloom. By a mile, the MVP is Jason Peter Kennedy’s Kooter. He’s Ryan’s best friend, and he has a badass beard. He might also not own a shirt. Kooter is hilarious. He provides comic relief in crazy situations. Kooter is the heart and soul of The Runners.

I will now close with some Bonus Bullet Points…

• Exploding Helicopter: Look out! Our friends at Exploding Helicopter will be happy that The Runners includes an exploding helicopter!
• The Empty Strip Club: If you ever wanted to visit a strip club without any strippers, then The Runners might be the movie for you. 
• Final Take: While The Runners isn’t non-stop action, its message is definitely one you should pay attention to. I have a feeling The Runners will do just enough to keep you engaged throughout.