RUNNING SCARED - Film Review 20/3/06

Now please tell me why dross like the current "Pink Panther" remake get's a huge run at the flicks and a quality film like "Running Scared" last's about 2 weeks and get's no promotion at all. No posters, no big reviews, nowt?? The director Wayne Kramer wrote the screenplay/story for the film "Mindhunters" and I find it very suspicious that that film was also treated badly and left on the shelf for about 3 years before it got a belated DVD release - When in fact it's a tense, superb thriller directed by Renny Harlin with a host of stars like Val Kilmer and Christian Slater. Much the same with Wayne Kramer's excellently taut and tight thriller that grabs you from the get-go and doesn't let go from start to finish. This 18 certificate does not pull any punches and the drug-deal gone wrong from the start blazes into gunfire and erupting gouts of blood. Paul Walker has everything that could go possibly wrong in nail-biting agony happen to him as the character of Joey and Chazz Palminteri pops up as a sleazy cop following hot on his tail. John Noble from "The Lord Of The Rings" Trilogy also crops up as a russian head mobster and is a real nasty bastard. The story rattle's along at a frenetic pace not letting up for an instant and some scenes really drag you through the grist-mill. Wanted by both the Mob and the Cops Walker has to tread a fine line between both while trying to achieve his objective - The return of a stolen gun used in a shooting. By the time the film roars through; 2 hours later to it's shattering conclusion, tears were pricking my eyes and I was determine to get this on DVD as soon as it's available. Hopefully not a crappy vanilla release but a solid disc(s) packed with Special Features on the film and it's making. A pity that this film has been let down by the usual Exec Suits and Money Men. This is quality film making at it's best with a solid story and well fleshed out characters treated disgracefully and deserve's a much wider audience than it currently has.