THE RUNNER plays as part of the online London Independent Film Festival 2021
Tickets available at: www.liff.org
The Verve often sang of the drugs not working – and in the new drama THE RUNNER, a classic tale of rich kids gone wrong harking back to the excesses of the late Eighties in films like LESS THAN ZERO, they are not working for spoilt rich kid model Aiden (Edouard Philipponat), living in a bitter sweet symphony of coming-of-age, who has been shopped by his understandably concerned mother, Miranda (Elisabeth Rohm) to Detective Wall (Cameron Douglas), who has provided him with a stark choice – turn informant to help bring down a local drug dealer, Local Legend (Eric Balfour) via a party he is hosting at his plush house, or go to prison and live with the consequences of his possession of recreation drugs he has been peddling at local high schools.
Aiden is clearly a bright kid, determined to make the athletics team at his local school but not running on time in every other aspect of his school life. He is emotionally stressed due to his flashbacks with an ex, Kayla (Kerri Medders) – but the line between right and wrong has got far too hazy. This also has serious consequences for his best friend Blake (Nadji Jeter) and his current girlfriend Liz (Jessica Amlee), guests at the party to end all parties. Inevitably, the goal to fulfil the moral obligations of Detective Wall is starting to kick in as much as the drugs….
Atmospheric but very downbeat and depressing tale of a young kid trying to do right by everything and find the right path amidst the darkness and hedonistic pleasures of youth. Director Michelle Danner captures perfectly the typical emotion and uncertainty that the influence of drugs throws at the younger generation, thanks to a well-coordinated set of performances from all concerned. Plaudits also go to Douglas, who has terrific screen presence like his acting father legend Michael, who encapsulates a determined detective out to set the record straight for all he works with and alongside and bodes well for more of the same in the future.
