Runaway

Runaway casts Aaron Stanford as Michael Adler, a young man who has absconded from his family home with his little brother (Zach Savage) in tow. Through sporadic and almost indecipherable flashbacks, we learn that Michael was abused by his father (Michael Gaston) as a child and wants to protect his sibling from similar treatment. It’s not long before Michael finds a job at a local convenience store, where he begins a tentative romance with a brassy local named Carly (played by Robin Tunney). Director Tim McCann attempts to compensate for Runaway‘s decidedly uncinematic look (it was shot digitally) by throwing in a variety of visual tricks that ultimately lend the film an arty, ostentatious sort of vibe. Having said that, there’s plenty here worth recommending – primarily the superb performances by Stanford and Tunney, both of whom effectively step into the shoes of characters that aren’t always likable. There’s also a fairly unexpected twist towards the end that doesn’t come off as gimmicky, thanks to Bill True’s subtle yet complex screenplay.

*** out of ****

Leave a comment