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When you watch this overlooked film, you might find it is wrought with a oft-manic Paul Walker who's trying to dispense with his adolescent roles. Kramer combines a Tony Scott and Paul Verhoeven with a touch of David Cronenberg aesthetic and it works effectively. Cameron Bright plays (again) a pivotal role as a catalyst for propelling the narrative forward. What's great, is how Kramer does not try to dilute the more explicit elements while also not turning it into a unapologetic documentary of war torn Liberia. Great performances by all, particularly Farminga who is opposite of her part in Scorsese's The Departed.The only flaw: Walker's overly dramatic. Trying too hard to carve out his own niche like DeNiro, or Hanks. Anyone can emote frantic and manic with abundant enthusiasm, but if Walker can internalize as much as spout poetic slurs and epithets, he wouldn't just have the Fast franchise on his resume.

This Tarantino'esque film really delivers. May'be this is better than a Tarantino flick. This fresh film, one exhilarating ride for the viewer, never lets up, has great plot points, that keeps the story running, and really intensifies it parts. It has heavy doses of violence, great shootouts, in the beginning and near the end, and has wonderful performances from actors who really give it their all. This includes gaunt jawed, face lifted Palminteri, as a crooked cop, involved in hijacking a lot of moolah, from a drug shipment, in the first shootout, leaving a few mob guys plenty pi..ed. You'll love how Chazz gets it. Paul Walker is good as the lead. He actually acts, although his wise guy accent, comes apart, here and there. He plays second rate thug/family man, Joey Gazelle, who disposes of guns for the mob. Of course, deep down, he's a nice guy, though. When the neighbours abused kid, steals a gun from Walker's private stash to use on his abusive pig of a Russian father, the same gun that was used to kill a dirty cop, hours prior, hell night begins for Walker, who must retrieve it, before the cops do. So we have a great situation movie, with Walker trying to track the kid, Oleg down, where over the course of the night, the gun ends up in different hands, making Walker's job harder. Should of hid it in a safer place, Paul, preferably with a lock on it. Oleg has a very eventful night, encountering some really seedy ugly sorts (shouldn't go out at night) but none more evil than a paedophile couple who kidnap him, but I won't even go into that. This is what despoiled the quality of the movie, by I forgive Kramer for bringing such a larger than life, if a little bit excessive, action thriller to the table, one that repels at times, but only cause of it's themes. This movie is a great nights viewing. The climax where Walker's held face down on the icy ground of a ice skating rink, where his face is used as a human hockey puck, is very violent indeed, and climactic, and what use of location, than a ice rink. Running Scared is a prime example of what exciting action movies are made of. That's if you like shootouts and violence, but also if you wanna be weirded out a bit, too, where you may very well, find yourself drained out, at the end of this wild and exciting ride, that could have Tarantino, a touch envious.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting was top-notch, the action was brutal yet captivating at the same time, and to make such an edge-of-your-seat thriller with such a simple plot is bravo in my book. As soon as the opening scene concludes it leaves you craving for more and the rest of the movie certainly delivers with an ending that satisfies. There's one particular scene in the movie that is definitely going to get under your skin (You'll know when you see it) and it will either make or break the movie. After I saw this scene I was on my feet cheering for the "good guy" wanting more and more. The only thing about the movie that was fairly annoying was the way the movie was being filmed, visually. Awkward camera angles and frizzy camera images left the movie annoying to watch at times, but fortunately id does not take away from the movie. All in all, if you have a solid stomach, crave an intriguing thriller without having to think much, this is your movie. Highly recommended.

RUNNING SCARED is a pretty interesting movie. It has its share of flaws, but it does offer something new, and is a lot different to the usual cops 'n' bad guys thriller that I was expecting. In many ways it's like a modern-day fairy tale, with lots of references to the classic stories of old (such as Hansel and Gretel) and a couple of characters facing bizarre and violent adventures during a single night.

First off, the good stuff: the cast is pretty hot, particularly Paul Walker, who gives a MUCH better performance than he does in the films he's best known for, the Fast and the Furious series. Similarly, Vera Farmiga can be guaranteed to deliver some strong acting, and the cast of various goons and bad guys are well picked. In addition, the film has a real Tarantino vibe to it; the direction is edgy and the violence explicit. The script isn't bad. Some of the direction is a little over the top and distracting in places, but for the most part it works.

The flaws are that it meanders slightly in places, and it also goes on for a little bit too long. The whole paedophile sub-plot, while being suspenseful, seems to belong in a different film altogether and really extends the running time. The ending is also rather predictable. But for the most part, this edgy and intriguing, and offers something different to the usual clichés we've come to expect from this genre.

This movie is definitely more violent than the ones I normally go to (I'm a woman in her 50's)but I really enjoyed this one. It kept me on the edge of my seat through the whole movie. A couple of times I even jumped in my seat. Paul Walker was great - he seemed perfect for the part. I hadn't seen him in movies before but I'm definitely a fan now. The story has a definite twist which kept me interested. If you can get past the violence and some nudity, I'd really recommend it. Lot of action and suspense and a good story line. The theater was full when I went and the audience clapped for the movie at the end - which means most of them enjoyed it too.