Action movie Runner interview with Wilson Santoro and Waugh
When high-octane thrills meet relentless momentum, the result is pure cinematic adrenaline. The upcoming thriller Runner strips the modern race-against-the-clock action movie down to its rawest, most visceral form. Directed by stunt-and-action master Scott Waugh, the film promises a three-hour sprint where every missed second and every stray bullet carries fatal consequences.
At the heart of this kinetic narrative is Alan Ritchson, delivering a performance that effortlessly channels the intensity of his previous roles, placing him squarely at the center of a claustrophobic deadline. He stars as Hank Malone, an elite former soldier who has traded military discipline for the high-stakes life of a courier. Malone’s mission is intensely personal: he must transport a life-saving donor organ across hostile territory to ensure the safety of a critically ill seven-year-old girl.
This humanitarian mission quickly devolves into a brutal fight for survival when the routine transport violently derails. A ruthless cartel syndicate, led by the menacing Damian Zaldívar, targets the shipment, transforming a desperate delivery into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Thrust along for the ride is Ben Bishop, played by Owen Wilson, an out-of-his-depth medical courier. Bishop must forge an uneasy alliance with Malone as they navigate a brutal gauntlet defined by ambushes, crossfires, and inescapable betrayals.
The dynamic between the two leads is the engine of the film. While Hank navigates the external threats, Owen Wilson brings a layer of organic comedic relief to the extreme danger, leaning into physical comedy that surfaces amidst the relentless tension. This unlikely buddy dynamic between the hardened courier and the bewildered medical operative provides a compelling counterpoint to the brutality unfolding around them.
Behind the lens, director Scott Waugh details his commitment to practical, visceral filmmaking. Waugh’s approach focuses on choreographing vehicular destruction and maintaining white-knuckle pacing within a real-time narrative window, ensuring the action feels immediate and inescapable.
The film is a masterclass in tension, fueled by the cold ambition of the antagonist and the desperate urgency of the protagonists. It’s a high-octane experience that doesn’t just move the plot forward; it demands that the audience feel every heartbeat of the desperate race.
Runner is set to open in theaters on September 8th.
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