Gal Gadot thriller is a perfect hate watch

Key Points:

• "The Runner," an Amazon thriller starring Gal Gadot, features her as a London lawyer forced to run across the city while communicating with a kidnapper holding her son hostage, resulting in a largely one-woman show with minimal supporting cast.
• The film struggles with pacing and tension, with director Kevin Macdonald's quick-cut montages and inconsistent use of modern surveillance themes failing to maintain engagement throughout its 84-minute runtime.
• Gadot's performance is critiqued for its lack of emotional connection and awkward dialogue delivery, though the movie's absurdity and unintentional humor provide entertainment value for viewers inclined toward "hate-watching."
• The script's inconsistent portrayal of the villain's technological control over Gadot's character and a convoluted subplot about her family history contribute to the film's overall disjointed and messy narrative.
• Despite its flaws, "The Runner" offers a quirky, if ineffective, thriller experience marked by repeated physical mishaps during Gadot's character's relentless jogging, making it a peculiar addition to the genre.