A drug-addled teen gets a second chance after getting busted by detectives, but the opportunity to make things right comes with high-stakes costs that prove to be too much in Saban Films’ The Runner. 

Directed by Michelle Danner and written by Jason Chase Tyrrell, The Runner stars Edouard Philipponnat as Aiden, the drug addicted lead who within the first few moments of the film is shown being arrested by police Detective Wall (Cameron Douglas). He’s been turned in by his mother (Elisabeth Röhm), who works more than she is home, leaving Aiden to his own devices the majority of the time. While it’s never pointedly stated, it’s clear her absenteeism has at least in part led to Aiden’s problem with drugs, as we are shown through a series of flashbacks profiling their crumbling relationship.

Aiden is given a deal by Detective Wall to go undercover as an informant and help bring down kingpin Local Legend (Eric Balfour) in exchange for his sentence being reduced. Otherwise, he’ll be charged as an adult and face extensive time behind bars. Consequently, he’s thrust further into a life of danger as he spends the majority of the film completely absorbed with drugs, whether he’s dealing to classmates or on them himself. As the pressure to take down Local Legend heightens, Aiden begins to realize he’s merely seen as a pawn by the detectives who want to take down the syndicate, as he attempts to reconcile with guilt from the ramifications of his addiction. 

This is a film that from the start suffers from issues with pacing, as it meanders back and forth between present day and points from Aiden’s past. While the flashbacks do provide a needed understanding to the events that got him where he is today, they are at times presented confusingly, making it difficult to discern when moments are taking place. In between these are long sequences involving the teen stumbling around while high, with smatterings of scenes that actually move the story forward.

There’s a whole lot going on plot-wise here, between Aiden’s broken relationship with his mother, the bullying tactics from police, and his unrealistically lavish lifestyle. It does well to set him up as a sympathetic character, thanks in large part to Philipponnat’s convincing performance. The actor expertly toggles between tortured soul and hardened criminal, making you want to at least partially root for his betterment. It’s at times easy to forget he’s a minor, which is actually a hindrance, as one of the main points to the story is the indecency of how he is treated by Detective Wall.

The supporting cast is talented, but there are missed opportunities to highlight their character arcs. Rohm plays her role with desperation and heartbreak, but is only shown in brief snippets throughout the film. Douglas’ portrayal of Wall and his tough-love demeanor is arguably the strongest of the film. So much so, in fact, that it would have done better to concentrate more on the tumultuous dealings between him and Aiden than it does on the other extraneous relationships.

Overall, The Runner is bogged down from the weight of trying to pack too much into a plot that doesn’t need to be over-complicated. When it isn’t trying so hard to tug at your emotions, it’s actually providing a solid foundation for a tense-filled story. It just gets caught up in its own net along the way too many times. 

6 out of 10