REVIEW: Runner (2026 Film) - Starring Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson

Review by Jon Donnis

Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson are an odd pairing on paper, but that is probably what makes Runner work as well as it does. Ritchson plays Hank Malone, a former Army Special Forces soldier who now earns a living transporting goods for clients. Wilson is Ben Bishop, the man who unexpectedly becomes attached to Hank's latest delivery.

What starts as a routine collection quickly becomes a fight for survival when Hank discovers the importance of what he is carrying. The pair are pursued by a Colombian cartel, forcing them through a succession of car chases, shootouts and increasingly desperate attempts to stay alive while getting the delivery to its destination.

The action is where the film earns most of its entertainment value. There is very little waiting around, with Hank constantly having to find another way out of trouble. A few of the set pieces stand out, particularly when he turns the cartel's own attempts to track them against them. The violence is also handled with enough impact to give the confrontations some weight.

Ritchson is well cast as Hank. He has the physical presence for the role, but the character is not simply presented as an indestructible killing machine. His history with his daughter Isabel, who died from leukaemia, explains some of his decisions and gives his attempts to learn French a personal reason.

Wilson gets the more amusing material, and the contrast between the two characters is easily one of the film's better features. Ben is inquisitive and talkative, while Hank is considerably less patient. Their arguments are often funny, and their relationship develops as their situation becomes more dangerous.

The emotional material works better than I expected. Hank's failed marriage to Monica and the loss of his daughter give the character something beyond the usual action-hero motivation. The film does not overplay it, which helps.

Unfortunately, the story is considerably less interesting than the two leads. Runner follows a very familiar buddy-action structure, and there are few genuine surprises. Once Hank and Ben become targets, the various obstacles and betrayals arrive pretty much as expected.

The film also sits awkwardly between action and comedy. There are laughs, mainly through Wilson, but the story is much more concerned with the chase and its consequences. I would have liked either a little more comedy or a slightly darker approach, rather than hovering somewhere between the two.

At around 90 minutes, there is at least no unnecessary padding. The film gets through its story quickly, gives its two leads plenty to do and finishes before the formula has time to become particularly tiresome.

There is nothing especially new here, but Ritchson and Wilson make the familiar material considerably more enjoyable than it deserves to be. The action delivers, the characters have enough personality to keep things interesting and the emotional elements give Hank a reason to care about more than simply surviving the day.

Runner will not stay with me for long, but I enjoyed watching it.

I score Runner a fair 7.5 out of 10.

In Cinemas Now, and not to be confused with the other film with Gal Gadot that I reviewed recently.

REVIEW: Hope (2026 Film) - Stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender

Review by Jon Donnis

Hope is an ambitious and gloriously strange mixture of science fiction, horror, action and Korean comedy. Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, the film begins in the isolated village of Hope Harbor, where a series of mysterious deaths soon develops into a fight for survival against a seemingly unstoppable creature.

One of the film's biggest strengths is how patiently it handles the creature's introduction. We do not get a full look at it until around 45 minutes in, allowing the mystery to build before the film finally unleashes its monster. That gradual approach makes the first proper appearance much more effective and gives the story time to establish the isolated setting and the growing sense that something is seriously wrong.

Once the creature begins its rampage, Hope becomes an almost relentless action film. The chase sequences are particularly impressive, especially during the first hour. Watching vehicles tear through the streets while characters are both pursuing and fleeing the creature gives the film a real sense of scale. The low camera angles also work brilliantly, making the action feel larger and more intense.

Despite its excessive running time, there is rarely a shortage of things happening. Gunfights, pursuits, attacks and increasingly bizarre encounters keep the story moving, while the film's Korean humour provides some welcome relief from the violence. I particularly enjoyed this side of Hope. The comedy feels like a natural part of the film rather than something awkwardly inserted between the action.

The creature itself becomes more interesting as the story develops. What initially appears to be a simple monster turns out to be intelligent, seemingly indestructible and connected to something much larger. The eventual discovery that the creatures are aliens completely changes the scale of the story, while the revelation involving an infant adds an unexpected emotional element to what could otherwise have been a straightforward monster movie.

The cast also works well. Hwang Jung-min makes Bum-seok a likeable central character, while Jung Ho-yeon brings plenty of energy to rookie officer Sung-ae. Zo In-sung's headstrong Sung-ki adds another strong personality to the increasingly chaotic situation. The international cast, including Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell, further adds to the film's unusual combination of Korean character drama and large-scale science fiction.

Unfortunately, Hope does have a couple of significant weaknesses.

The biggest is the running time. At more than two and a half hours, the film is simply too long. There is plenty of action to keep things moving, but a tighter edit would have made the overall experience considerably stronger. Some material could have been trimmed without sacrificing the story or its major set pieces.

The CGI is also inconsistent. Much of the creature work is effective, but there are several shots where the effects are noticeably weaker. When the creature looks convincing, it is an imposing threat. When the CGI falters, however, it becomes much harder to stay immersed in the scene.

The ending is another reason I hope this is not the last we see of Hope. The cliffhanger leaves the story open for a sequel, and I would happily return for another film. With a larger budget, particularly for the visual effects, there is plenty of potential to build on what works here and deliver something even bigger.

If you love chase scenes, great action set pieces and weird-looking creatures, aliens and monsters, and you do not mind reading subtitles, then Hope is very much the film for you.

I love all of those things, and I really enjoyed Hope.

Hope gets a solid 8.5 out of 10. The dodgy CGI in places and the overly long running time are the main things preventing it from scoring even higher.

Hope is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on 25 September 2026

And is out NOW in US cinemas!

The Trailer does have some spoilers, so beware before you watch.

COMPETITION: Win Zulu Dawn on 4K-UHD and Blu-ray

DOUGLAS HICKOX’S 1979 SEMINAL WAR FILM AND PREQUEL TO ZULU GETS A STUNNING NEW PHYSICAL RELEASE FROM SEVERIN FILMS.

And to celebrate we have a copy on 4K-UHD and a copy Blu-ray to give away!

Synopsis:

Screen legends Burt Lancaster, Peter O’Toole, Simon Ward and Bob Hoskins lead an all-star cast in this “fascinating and awesome” (DVD Talk) prequel to the 1964 classic ZULU.

In January 1879, officials of the British colony of Natal, Africa issued a list of ultimatums to the Zulu Nation. When the Zulu King refused, the Empire declared war. And in a series of grave tactical blunders, a garrison of 1,500 British soldiers faced 25,000 enraged Zulu warriors in what would become the most horrific disaster in British military history.

Nigel Davenport (CHARIOTS OF FIRE), Denholm Elliott (RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK) and Simon Sabela (SHAKA ZULU) co-star in this “eye-filling, spectacular experience” (Mondo Digital), directed by Douglas Hickox (THEATRE OF BLOOD) from a screenplay by ZULU writer/director Cy Endfield, now scanned in 4K from the interpositive with 6+ hours of new and archival Special Features, plus an exclusive 100 page book, poster and art cards.

Also available is a Special Limited Edition:

Pre-Order from https://link.amazon/B09BpEcVZ

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who directs Zulu Dawn?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 28-09-26

2. No alternative prize is available

3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.

4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

PREVIEW: Crushed (2026 Film) - Starring Steve Oram

Preview by Jon Donnis

Crushed is set to bring a particularly bleak vision of horror to UK audiences this October, with filmmaker Simon Rumley turning his attention to faith, revenge and the darkest aspects of human exploitation.

Starring Steve Oram in the lead role, the new thriller follows Daniel, an English vicar living with his wife May and their 10-year-old daughter Olivia in the suburbs of Bangkok. On the surface, the family appears to have a quiet and happy life. That changes after Olivia is exposed to a disturbing animal cruelty video, setting in motion a chain of events that ends with her abduction.

For Daniel and May, what follows is a desperate attempt to find their daughter and bring her home. Their search takes them into a world of fear, desperation and human depravity, while the support of their close-knit community offers some hope amid an increasingly horrific situation.

Daniel's position as a man of faith gives the story another dimension. He has spent his life preaching about God, forgiveness and faith, but when confronted with an unimaginable evil, those beliefs are put under extraordinary pressure. The central question is whether Daniel can practise what he has preached throughout his life, or whether the need for revenge will prove stronger.

Rumley, whose previous work includes Red White & Blue and The Living and the Dead, expands the disturbing ideas explored in his 2012 short film P is for Pressure, which featured in The ABCs of Death. Crushed takes the subject of exploitation crush videos and develops it into a feature-length story, while exploring the wider themes of trauma, religion, forgiveness and revenge.

Steve Oram should also prove an intriguing choice to carry such a dark and dramatic story. Best known to many audiences for Sightseers, as well as appearances in The End of the F***ing World and DI Ray, Oram takes on the role of a father pushed to the limits by an unimaginable situation.

Shot entirely on location in Thailand, Crushed promises a raw and unflinching thriller that is not afraid to confront uncomfortable subject matter. Alongside its fictional story, the film aims to raise awareness of contemporary issues surrounding child trafficking and animal cruelty.

With its combination of psychological pressure, religious themes and a disturbing central premise, Crushed looks set to be an unsettling addition to the thriller landscape when it arrives in the UK.

Crushed will be released on UK digital on 5 October 2026 through GrimmVision.

PREVIEW: Connected (2026 Film) - Starring Rose Muirhead

Preview by Jon Donnis

Connected brings together crime, romance and high-octane action in a new British heist thriller that sees two very different women caught up in a dangerous game involving stolen diamonds and a priceless family heirloom.

Directed by Deborah Hadfield, whose previous work includes The Kindness of Strangers, the film follows street-smart motorbike courier Stevie, played by Rose Muirhead, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally swaps phones with international jewellery designer Angel, played by Fern Taylor.

The seemingly innocent mistake plunges the pair into each other's very different worlds. While Stevie finds herself enjoying a taste of Angel's lavish lifestyle, Angel is forced to experience the less glamorous reality of multi-drop deliveries. What begins as a comedic case of mistaken identity soon develops into something far more dangerous.

As Stevie and Angel's paths eventually cross again, they discover they have become caught in the middle of a high-stakes robbery involving a secret stash of diamonds and a priceless heirloom handbag that once belonged to a fleeing movie star.

Their differences in status and lifestyle mean the unlikely pair must put their differences aside and work together. Their target is Neil, played by Sam Patrick, a seductive and ruthless playboy thief intent on escaping to Monaco with the stolen treasure.

With Neil's glamorous lifestyle proving difficult to resist, Stevie faces a choice between helping Angel and being drawn further into a world of wealth and luxury. As the twists continue to unfold, the pair must stay one step ahead if they are to outmanoeuvre their dangerous adversary.

Following its World Premiere at London Rolling Film Festival, Connected promises an adrenaline-fuelled female-led thriller packed with secrets, lies, criminal action, romance and plenty of danger.

Connected arrives on UK digital on 5 October from Trinity Content Partners.