Plot: What’s it about?
Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is not a bad guy per se, but does he does work as one, thanks to being a hired thug for crime boss Tommy Perello (Johnny Messner). He has a good heart at times, but he has to make ends meet, so he works outside the law. His latest task to dispose of a gun, a .38 used to take some lives and could be used to create some problems. The men shot with the gun were cops, crooked cops looking to take over a drug deal, but cops nonetheless. So Joey is to make sure the gun is never found and in turn, can never be used as evidence. He plans to do just that, but first he heads home for some personal time with his hot wife, stashing the gun in the basement. But while Joey is otherwise occupied, one of his neighbors, a young man named Oleg (Cameron Bright) sneaks into the scene and makes off with the gun. Oleg has an abusive stepfather and once he has the gun, he uses it to protect himself and aims at his stepfather. Once Joey finds out what has happened, he knows he has to recover the gun before anyone else, or his life is over. But as he searches, he has to keep a step ahead of the police, Russian mafia, and his own boss. Can he somehow track down the gun in time and make it disappear, or will he be the one to vanish?
I have to admit, when I saw the previews for this movie, I expected a lame remake of the lame Running Scared with Billy Crystal. But that isn’t the case, instead we have a dark, oh so dark thriller that maintains a level of intensity and depravity that impressed even me. The film has elements few other movies would dare touch and does so with reckless abandon. I don’t know if I would call Running Scared a good movie, but it is so brutal and unrelenting, it stands out as bold. And to me, bold is rare in these days of constant remakes and safe filmmaking, so that is cool in and of itself. There is very, very little redeeming value in these characters and situations. so if you want a feel good movie or a strong moral compass, this isn’t your flick. But if you like intense movies that walk on the edge, this is one you’ll be glued to. Whether it is good or not, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen and was immersed in this picture from start to finish. The visuals are eclectic, with a lot of quick edits and odd angles, but it seems to work well in this case. Paul Walker, who I hate in other roles, holds his own here, while Claire Forlani, Cameron Bright, Vera Farmiga, and Chazz Palminteri provide solid supporting work. In the end, I give this movie a solid recommendation. Running Scared is not for all audiences, but those who want more than formulaic drivel should be satisfied here.
Video: How does it look?
Running Scared is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The film’s skewed visuals make it impossible to score on a normal scale, but this is just how the movie looked in theaters. The visuals are amped up and overexposed in a lot of scenes, so colors and contrast have a strange texture. But this is intentional and on the rare instances a more natural presence is needed, this transfer delivers. The print is in pristine condition, with no flaws whatsoever, just a top of the line treatment from New Line.
Audio: How does it sound?
New Line has gone all out for the soundtracks as well and while the result is near perfect, it isn’t quite at the same level as the best soundtracks out there. You can choose between Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES options, which is quite generous and both sound excellent. The DTS track is head and shoulders better however, with more power and a tighter, more refined overall presentation. The Dolby Digital option is no slouch, it sounds great, but it can’t compete in this instance. The music selection is great and sounds good here also, while dialogue is clean and never lost in the equation. This disc also includes English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Wayne Kramer provides his director’s perspective in a commentary track, but he is too serious at times, at least for my tastes. He seems a little too quick to defend his use of violence and sleaze, which strikes me as odd, but oh well. He does offer some insightful thoughts on the technical side of the film however, so there is some good with the bad. This disc also includes a brief behind the scenes featurette, some storyboards, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
