Runaway (1984)

A lesser-known 1980s sci-fi gem that deserves far greater recognition

Directed by Michael Crichton
Written by Michael Crichton
Produced by Michael I. Rachmil, Lisa Faversham, Kurt Villadsen
Cinematography: John A. Alonzo
Edited by Glenn Farr, James Coblentz
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production company: Delphi III Productions
Distributed by Tri-Star Pictures
Release date: December 14, 1984
Running time: 99 minutes
Budget: $8 million
Box office: $6,770,587 (USA)

Cast

Tom Selleck as Sergeant Jack R. Ramsay

Cynthia Rhodes as Officer Karen Thompson
Gene Simmons as Dr. Charles Luther
Kirstie Alley as Jackie Rogers
Stan Shaw as Sergeant Marvin James
G.W. Bailey as Chief of Police
Joey Cramer as Bobby Ramsay
Chris Mulkey as David Johnson
Sullivan Walker as K.C.
Anne-Marie Martin as Hooker At Bar
Michael Paul Chan as Wilson, Vectrocon Security Guard
Babz Chula as Construction Foreperson
Marilyn Schreffler as Voice of Lois
Elizabeth Norment as Miss Shields
Carol Teesdale as Sally
Paul Batten as Harry
Betty Phillips as Linda
Stephen Thorne as Tommy
Stephen E. Miller as Rudy
Cec Verrell as Hooker
Amber Borycki as Baby (uncredited)

Sometime in a future which we have almost caught up with, robots perform domestic house-hold, agricultural, construction and many other services. The police have a specialized department tasked with investigating and resolving cases involving malfunctioning robots that pose a danger to humans. Such robots are known as "Runaways"

Trailer

Read on for more......

Spoilers Follow below.....

“If you're gonna keep up, you gotta move”

The film opens with Sgt. Jack Ramsay inspecting the internal circuitry of a robot when a call comes over the intercom informing him of his next assignment - a 7799 agricultural robot that has malfunctioned. At the same time he is being introduced to his new partner, Officer Karen Thompson. As the two officers rapidly make their way to their first assignment as partners, the nature of their work along with something of their respective backgrounds is quickly established.

In a cornfield we see an almost cute little one-armed robot plucking a grub from a stem and depositing it into a meat-grinding contraption thereby routinely and dispassionately mashing the life out it as per its programming. Meanwhile its fellow automaton who would hardly qualify for entrance into a round of Robot Wars, is dashing about the cornfield with gay abandon.

On their way to a waiting helicopter, we learn that Officer Thompson had previously worked in Traffic and once had intended to become a data programmer. While onboard the copter, we learn that Ramsay had been working with the “Runaway” Squad for a couple of years. We also learn that he has a fear of heights.

After the copter lands, the two officers are met by a group of farmers who look as if they could have easily kicked the crap out of the malfunctioning robot, or at least could have pumped a couple of rounds into it to bring a halt to its shenanigans. But if they had done so, they would have missed out on the comical entertainment provided by Ramsay and Thompson as they pursued their felonious mechanical quarry.

Having completed their distinctly unglamorous assignment, Ramsay discloses to his distinctly nosy and inquisitive partner that he had just fallen into his new job by accident, discovered that he liked it and took night courses in robotics. He also claims that he had to stop working the streets due to his vertigo. There is a distinct bit of reticence on Ramsay’s part when discussing his past and a degree of annoyance and evasiveness when pressed on the issue by his newbie partner.

The expression of disappointment on Thompson’s face as she overhears Jack discussing dinner arrangements with a “Lois” over the comms speaks volumes!

Back at squad headquarters, Karen questions officer Marvin as to why Jack quit the regular force. According to Marvin, a few years previously Jack was chasing a man who ran into a building that was under construction. Due to his vertigo, Jack was unable to follow him and the man eluded capture. Later that same night, that man killed six people, “a family up in Ridgemont” for which Jack has blamed himself, along with the fact that the killer got away. As a result, Jack became a robotics expert, a field in which he feels a lot safer.

While Karen goes on to give a rundown of her previous life experiences, a call comes through which will send the new partners to their next assignment…….

“Runaway 2, we have a 709 alert!”

Karen and Jack soon find themselves dealing with a new threat—a robotic homicide involving a domestic robot that murdered a family with a kitchen knife. This case will prove to be quite unlike the seemingly trivial and run-of-the-mill routine investigations that would be expected to come to the attention of the “Runaway” Squad.

In their second assignment together (a “709” signifying that people have died), Ramsay and Thompson go to the house of a man named Johnson, an Electronics engineer whose household model 912 robot has killed his wife and her sister with an ordinary kitchen knife. A 10-month-old baby is in a crib inside the house alone and crying.

The robot in question is a new domestic model powered by batteries and is programmed to perform housework, cooking meals and answering the doors.

More disturbingly, its sensors allow it to see and hear everything, even to the extent of accessing wireless electromagnetic frequencies and transmissions. The robot may also have been modified.

A small compact drone called a floater (which means something completely different in my country!) containing a camera provides a direct video feed to the police as it enters the house to locate the runaway 912 and the distressed infant.

A small portable laptop or tablet-style computer provides information about the robot along with audio analysis of a gun shot that indicates it is in possession of a.357 Magnum – the gun that has just taken out the hapless little floater drone.

The media in the form of a TV news crews at the scene come across as being callous and primarily interested in sensationalizing the incident under the guise of upholding the public’s right to know and their own supposed expertise in determining what is newsworthy.

Jack questions Johnson, the distraught father of the infant about any possible modifications that may have been made to the robot. Johnson is incensed that Jack should suggest that he would have any idea or involvement in the robot having gone out of control. When he is informed that the robot has a gun, Johnson rather oddly begins to rush away declaring, “Oh, my God, he's crazy!”

As a frantic and panicked Johnson leaves, he shouts at the TV news crew that he wont be on television. His state of distress and upset merely comes across as “very hot stuff” to the vulture-like waiting media.

The apparent irresponsibility of the media is further highlighted when despite discouragement from Jack, a KBEX cameramen follows the sergeant as he ventures inside clad in an electromagnetic scatter suit. During a very tense attempt to locate and neutralise the robot, the cameraman pays with his life for his act of foolishness.

To the applause and acclaim from the police and media at the scene, Jack brings out the baby safely but it is soon discovered that Johnson, the father has unexpectedly disappeared. And who on earth is that suspicious-looking man among the assembled crowd observing everything with obvious evil intent plastered all over his face as if it were make-up applied by the devil himself?

Accompanied by Karen, Ramsay goes home to his son Bobby and Lois, the robot who takes care of both the house and Bobby. Bobby is thrilled about what he has just seen on the TV news featuring a report on his father’s rescue of the baby.

“Would Lois ever go crazy like that other robot?”

Like a surrogate parent, Lois the domestic Series 12 robot reminds Bobby that it is 45 minutes past his bedtime and that she’ll be verifying that he’ll brush his teeth. Lois is a step up from the series 10 “lemons” and although she ensures that Bobby does his homework, when it comes to mealtimes Bobby seems to get his way. Still, Lois is “pretty reliable” and judging from Karen’s taking her leave of Jack’s hospitality, seems to be able to take initiative and learn from human interactions with varying degrees of success. The robot struggles to naturally and seamlessly interact conversationally with the humans. Do we also detect a hint of ‘resentment’ and ‘feeling’ of confusion on the part of Lois at the potential inclusion of Karen into the up until now ordered and predictable domestic arrangement?

To Karen’s apparent relief, Lois turns out not to be Jack’s wife. She learns from Jack the bare basic fact that his wife died a couple of years previously in a car crash.” Clearly, it is not something he wishes to elaborate on or be reminded about.

After Karen departs, Jack enters Bobby’s room where we see the boy hiding under the covers with a tablet-like device learning about dinosaurs. Kids with screen devices when they are supposed to be asleep! Sound familiar? This is a refreshing father and son scene in which the father is for once portraying a positive male role model showing love for and interest in his son as well as showing that it is alright to feel “even just a little” scared in certain situations. With Karen in mind, Bobby feels confident enough to suggest to his father that it wouldn’t kill him to marry again.

No robot could provide this kind of human interaction and connection. No, Lois is certainly no substitute for a mother or a wife. As a robot, Lois is programmed to perform certain domestic functions and be interactive, but could “it” / “she” be re-programmed or modified? Jack is about to be presented with such a possibility during an investigation of the 912’s circuits…….

“This isn't a runaway. This is murder!”

During that investigation, unusual non-standard and non-commercial chips are discovered which did not come with the 912 robot. Suddenly the circuits ignite and spread a great deal of smoke causing the officers to hit the deck. It is confirmed that the robot is not a runaway, that it has been modified resulting in its safety features being overridden as well as programmed to attack and kill humans.

“People make machines, so why should machines be perfect?”

For their next assignment, Jack and Karen are called to attend a building construction site where a Stacker robot is “stacking where there's no place to stack” by throwing large bags of cement off the 18th floor of the building. Being a rather tall building and given his fear of heights, Jack understandably hands over the job to his eager partner while he remains safely on the ground. Needless to say, Karen successfully switches the errant malfunctioning robot off.

It turns out that most of the work is being performed by robots while on another “construction project over on Main, there aren't any people working there at all, just hundreds of robots.” Unlike a human workforce, with robots there is no need for “coffee breaks” and no “union hassles.” Except, there is just one little problem: the Stacker robot seems to have “gone nuts!”

As the two officers leave the construction site, Jack points out to his partner that since “nothing works right” including “relationships and people” and seeing that “people make machines” then “why should machines be perfect?” An interesting point when it comes to our own increasing use of Artificial Intelligence and dependence on algorithms. How much will our own imperfections and biases be incorporated into and reflected by such technology and with what consequences?

“I wanna know who this guy is”

The investigation continues at Johnson’s place with the checking of the door recorder – quite commonplace in our time with domestic CCTV wireless surveillance and doorbell cameras. Eventually, the face of the mysterious onlooker from the incident involving the 912 robot appears onscreen. The rest of the tape has been erased but there’s enough to show that this individual was passing himself off as an Acme Robot Repairman supposedly responding to a call about a non-functioning 912.

It turns out that the mysterious individual is a “damned, evil son of a bitch” with an evil comic-book sounding name of Dr Luther. We next see him engaged in a transaction with someone named Harry who is about to hand over chips created from a series of master templates in exchange for a large cash payment. By acquiring the chips and more importantly the templates, Luther will be able to have the chips mass-produced and sold to anyone who'll offer him the most money.

As insurance that both Johnson and he will be paid, Harry has arranged for the rest of the chips and templates he has withheld to be locked in a safe. Once they are paid, Luther will get the key. What Harry hadn’t counted on was Luther’s treachery thereby ending up paying with his life.

“I can't go out there”

As for the elusive Johnson, Jack and Karen discovered him hiding out in a hotel room. Armed and fearing for his life, Johnson frantically absconds before Ramsay can take him to the station. As Ramsay takes off after him in hot pursuit, Dr. Luther appears and opens fire with a bad ass handgun. What is different about this firearm is that it fires smart bullets that can go around corners and avoid obstacles while tracking their target in much the same manner as a heat-seeking missile. These days we are all familiar with the concept of a ‘smart’ bomb and missile technology. There has also been some recent experimentation and development of similar smart bullet technology. Anyway, after a couple of attempts, Johnson is finally killed.

An attempt to identify Johnson’s killer begins with a computerized photo identity re-construction of the perpetrator’s face using a tablet-like device. Quite a step up from the old style artist’s sketch or the use of clear film containing various kinds of facial features.

At the scene of Johnson’s murder, a ‘sniffer’ robot has picked up “diphenyl compounds and tetra-hydrocarbons.” The latter are explosive while the former are solid propellant, “like they use in rockets.”

Vectrocon Security System

The investigation moves to Vectrocon, a company where David Johnson worked as an electronic engineer. The company’s Security Systems require a retinal scan to gain access – biometrics being commonplace in our own time in work places, gaining access to banking facilities, passport ID, mobile phone access and so on

Another feature of our own life in the 21st century is the prevalence and sheer amount of personal data that is held on each of us, along with access and privacy issues. In the film, the Vectrocon company’s AI security system is described as a 5590 processor, with a Z-77 phonetic ROM, giving it a lifelike tone. Our own modern AI generative technology has reached the stage that it is becoming harder to distinguish between human and AI generated speech interaction and text. Also, think about how many times have we had to tell Google Assist and Alexa to shut up when they unexpectedly jump in and interrupt our conversations!

The information held on Johnson shows that he is 32 years old and has been with the company for four years. In addition, he is a graduate in electronic engineering and has worked on several projects: The Vectrocon Security System, the Phantom Missile and a laser-guided smart bomb. For the past year, he has worked in Special Projects. His biography also includes pass-times such as skiing, biking and water sports. Of interest to Jack is the Vectrocon Security project, but guess what? The old evasive chestnut - “That information is classified” is used to cut off further investigation.

“I'll knock this baby off quick”

Jack soon finds himself responding to an incident in the very company where Johnson worked. As one of the executive secretaries, Jackie Rogers is being held prisoner by a robot, a 577 Sentry “with office-checking routines onboard” and equipped with standard issue sting level Taser shocks. However, this little sucker doesn’t seem to be able to be voice deactivated and “with these Sentries, the temperatures get too high and they pop their chips right off the motherboard.”

Noticing how attractive Jackie is, its Ramsay to the rescue as he dives right in He-Man style sans insulation and padding. After a few comical attempts to demonstrate his prowess and being stunned (not stung) in the process, Jack manages to smother the little robot with his jacket before smashing the crap out of it with a chair in the hope of course of impressing Ms Rogers.

Jack tops off his effort by gallantly offering to accompany Jackie to the building’s exit. Jackie is rather reluctant to accept his offer not because she thinks he’s a jerk or some member of the chauvinistic male patriarchy as is the fashion these days. It turns out that she has in her possession the templates for the chips needed for Dr. Luther's smart bullets. Jackie claims that it is not her fault and that Luther made her get the templates from the vault otherwise he would kill her “the way he killed Johnson and the others.” Jack learns from her that Luther is at present attending a meeting at the Ritz Hotel.

“You screwed up good”

Although it is not strictly within the purview of Ramsay's responsibility, he continues to investigate the case and discovers Dr. Luther in a room at the Ritz Hotel together with two other men and two young women. Jack justifies his involvement on the grounds that “this guy's a killer” and he “wont let him get away.”

After a gun battle involving the use of a “floater” drone to cover Luther’s getaway, two officers are killed and two wounded including Jack’s partner, Karen. Despite his fear of heights, Ramsay then heads up to the roof to rescue one of the young women being held by Dr. Luther. He eventually manages to rescue her but Luther has meanwhile escaped in a waiting helicopter.

One of the two dead hoods at the scene had a degree in electrical engineering from Cal Tech while the other had a degree in solid state physics from M.I.T. Both men had great sounding Italian Mafia crime family names but unlike the stereotypical image of such criminals, these men were well-educated “high-tech shoppers” – a new breed of criminal in keeping with the prevalence and development of the lucrative business of modern technology. The question is, what were they buying?

Ramsay is roundly reprimanded by his Chief due to the chaos and the deaths resulting from his actions and the fact he acted outside of his department’s area of responsibility. Jack, however turns his attention to his injured partner and steps in to extract an unexploded fragment from a live shell embedded in Karen’s arm, rather than run the risk of having her arm blown off should a robot be employed to conduct the operation. He does not trust the Disarm robot to do it as “they screw up all the time” and “it's over a year old and, they were never any good!” Be that as it may, no robot could perform the hazardous procedure with as much connection, empathy, care and consideration as Jack has done.

Unfortunately, Jack once again screws up big time, this time with Karen after she leaves hospital. His idea of having dinner at his place consists of going over office routines and station procedures, the usual things he would do when taking new partners to dinner. Doofus Jack has just managed to crush Karen’s hopes in that she wants him to see her as a woman and would hope he would want to spend time with her and not just as a partner. Is it any wonder that Jack is then left to wonder why Karen has turned down his dinner invite when told to “just forget it?”

Upon returning home, Jack tells Lois to forget about dinner as his “dinner guest” wont be attending. Do we detect a hint of robotic glee at this news on the part of Lois who asks Jack if Karen forgot dinner supposedly misinterpreting his comment to forget about preparing dinner. Is Lois somehow 'feeling' quite content to erase the whole event including Karen from her memory?

“You've heard of a bullet that has your name on it? This one really does”

The results of the recovery of a smart bullet from Luther’s weapon indicate a miniature heat seeking missile capable of locking onto a “specific person” by means of their “own unique heat pattern.” This raises the potential problem of terrorists getting their hands on and making use of such “microelectronics stuff. ”As for the chips, they can be used to override all CPU instructions and “turn any computer into a killer.”

“This is a bad guy”

It is eventually determined that the evil genius behind the high-tech crimes is Dr. Charles Luther, “a rich kid gone bad” who “likes to kill people”:

• Served one to three, robbery.
• Arrest, murder two, no conviction.
• Arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, overturned.
• Mob connections.

It is also determined that Luther got Johnson and Harry to design the chips, killed them and ran away with the illegal chips. The chips themselves were “run off a regular assembly line” meaning that “there's photo templates to make more.”

It now remains to find out who has the templates and locate them.

“He sees everything. He knows everything here”

Back at the precinct, we can see a workplace that is largely computerized together with CCTV and wireless blue-tooth style communication headsets being used. A phone call to Ramsay from Luther soon reveals the ease with which Luther is able to hack into the communications and surveillance system. Rather chillingly, Luther tells Ramsay, “You're standing by the desk punching buttons on the console trying to trace this call, which won't do shit, because I'm calling from a mobile phone. Now you're looking around. Now you're cupping your hand over the receiver.”

Luther wants Ramsay to turn Jackie over to him otherwise he will kill both of them. With an ironic play on Ramsay’s role in the force and the title of his squad, Luther informs him, “You can't run away, Ramsay” as he will find him by means of his “little machines.”

As a means of getting Jackie to safety, and hopefully forcing her to divulge the location of the stolen chips, Ramsay arranges for a police convoy to transfer her. Ramsay and Jackie ride in an autonomous police vehicle controlled by a robot driver while Karen uses another car armed with a laser gun. It isn’t long before the police convoy is attacked during a car chase by pursuing small robotic smart bomb vehicles. Eventually Ramsay and Jackie have to change cars while the pursuit is in progress. Despite Karen’s efforts at zapping some of the persistent devices, the car Ramsay and Jackie were in is blown up but luckily not before the transfer is made.

The lethal devices are zeroing in on a bug concealed in Jackie's purse. Just in the nick of time, Ramsay throws the bag out the car window before one of the robot bomb vehicles reaches their car.

Ramsay decides to make a public appearance with Jackie at a restaurant with the purpose of drawing Luther out. Being one step ahead though, Luther has hold of Karen as a hostage with the intention of exchanging her for Jackie and of course, the templates. Prior to the exchange, Jackie hands some of the templates to Ramsay, as insurance for Luther not killing her. However, upon discovering the templates missing, the psychopathic Luther kills Jackie and fires his smart bullets into the crowded restaurant at Ramsay as he makes his escape.

It turns out that Jack has planted a bug on Luther which later leads him and his fellow officers to a toilet facility at the City Hospital. Unfortunately, Luther has outsmarted them as it it becomes obvious that they have merely “just staked out toilet paper.” Two young officers pay with their lives as one of Luther’s robot spiders kills one by injecting poison into her and then killing her colleague by exploding.

As part of his plan to retrieve the missing templates, Luther disguises himself as a police officer in order to infiltrate the precinct and make use of the police computers to obtain information about Ramsay's personal life, including his son. Luther uses an eyeball to get through the security retinal scan thereby gaining access to Ramsay's computer.

Upon discovering his information having been hacked, Ramsay rushes home to discover that Lois is damaged and his son missing. As Ramsay tries to retrieve the information concerning Bobby from a barely functioning Lois, Luther calls to inform him that he has kidnapped Bobby and will exchange him for the missing templates on condition that Ramsay comes alone.

Ramsay refuses to let Karen accompany or follow him to where Luther is holding Bobby and doesn’t trust her to keep any promise about not doing so. After he leaves, Lois draws Karen’s attention to the completion of her diagnostic check, then states that there is a malfunction and requests that a check be made on her battery connections. Sure enough, a recording is triggered that provides Karen with Ramsay’s destination. Was this an unexpected display of initiative on the robot’s part?

“They'll let you in, but they won't let you out. There's nothing you can do!”

Ramsay arrives at an unfinished skyscraper construction site. Despite his fear of heights, he has no option but to go up in the elevator. Once he arrives on the floor where Luther has his son, Ramsay demands Bobby be released and will only then hand over the templates when his son reaches safety below in the elevator. However, the duplicitous Luther has arranged it so that as soon as Bobby gets off the elevator, his robot spiders will kill him as there can be no witnesses. He informs Ramsay that “the spiders have been programmed to kill the first one off the elevator.”

Ramsay frantically shouts down to Bobby to stop the elevator, but to no avail as Luther has fixed it so that the controls will not work. In the meantime, Karen has arrived and manages to rescue Bobby before he falls prey to Luther’s robotic arachnids.

An enraged Luther begins blasting away with his gun containing the smart bullets, but Ramsay manages in a bit of sweet techno irony to activate the robotic construction equipment. The many heat sources thus created cause the bullets to miss their human target.

Ramsay then tries to use the elevator to make his escape, but the elevator malfunctions, ascends rapidly to the top and abruptly comes to a halt. Once again, despite his fear of heights Ramsay is forced to perform aerial gymnastics in order to reach a reset button located underneath the elevator to restart it. He has to do all this while at the same time having to contend with homicidal robot spiders.

Having succeeded in dispatching the spiders, Ramsay restarts the elevator and descends. Suddenly, the elevator stops on the floor Luther is on. A maniacal and gloating Luther taunts Ramsay by telling him “that's good, Ramsay, but not good enough. Enjoy the view?” In response, Ramsay starts the elevator and during the descent, he and Luther fight. When Ramsay suddenly stops the elevator Luther is catapulted onto the ground to be greeted by his own programmed robot spiders - programmed of course to kill whoever comes down. They do indeed carry out their programming admirably by injecting Luther multiple times.

After Ramsay helps his son down and gets Karen to take his son back to the car, he approaches the seemingly dead Luther. Suddenly there’s a moment of shock as a screaming Luther reaches for Ramsay but falls back dead to be consumed by the mini conflagration caused by the self-destructing spiders that surround him.

“Just because you're a woman shouldn't make a difference, right?”

As the film closes and Ramsay and Karen passionately embrace and kiss. it is obvious that they will be partners in the romantic sense of the word. Oh yes, and Ramsay has overcome his fear of heights and dinner will be served at last!

Points of Interest

Runaway (1984) had a multi-million dollar budget with big-name actors and a popular and famous author as its writer and director. Despite these factors however, it was overshadowed by such blockbusters as The Terminator, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Unfortunately, the film was a box office disappointment.

The film’s star, Tom Selleck appeared in Michael Crichton's film Coma and is best known for his role in the TV series, Magnum, P.I.. It was good to see Selleck in a role that departed from the one he had in the TV series. In Runaway, he gave his character a great deal of believability and credibility. Runaway was his third starring film role following High Road to China and Lassiter.

The film was first rock star Gene Simmon’s first feature acting role. He was offered the part after meeting Crichton and did not have to read for it.

Kirstie Alley received a 1984 Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film.

The characters are generally underdeveloped and rather two-dimensional, with Luther being just plain evil in a comic-book fashion with little depth, the police captain being constantly on the verge of apoplexy while berating Ramsay and with Karen and Jackie serving mostly as eye-candy and potential love interests for Jack. They did their best with what they had to work with though. Ramsay’s character is probably the most interesting and credible one of the lot.

One standout feature in Runaway was the obvious on-screen chemistry between Tom Selleck and Cynthia Rhodes, who played Karen, Ramsay’s partner. She also had previously appeared in Flashdance and Staying Alive as a dancer, and in Dirty Dancing (1987).

Filming took place from 29 May to August 1984 in Vancouver while Selleck was on a break from Magnum, P.I..

The original musical score, composed by Jerry Goldsmith was his first all-electronic soundtrack.

The involvement and influence of the film’s writer/director, Michael Crichton encompassed such movies as The Andromeda Strain (1970), Westworld (1973),The Terminal man (1974), Coma (1978) and Jurassic Park (1993).

While not quite on the same level as some of the other films, Crichton’s skillful direction enabled Runaway to move along at a fast pace and allowed it to convey a sense of inventiveness and originality which still stands up well today. Take for instance as a small example, the smart bullet-eye view scenes as the projectiles zeroed in on their human targets.

From the time of Jules Verne, science fiction depiction of future technology has often been based on a particular era’s contemporary technical and scientific developments and extrapolating from those ideas. Some might see this as constituting a kind of prescience, prediction or foretelling the future. Runaway contains many elements of technology that existed at the time as conceptual ideas or were being developed such as domestic robots, voice-activated computers, biometric security, camera drones, tablet PCs, wireless headsets, and smart weapons.

You would have noticed the following kinds of technology used in Runaway that are only now starting to be introduced or have only recently formed part of everyday use in recent times:

Autonomous Self-Driving Cars: In Runaway, the police cars have a robot driver which may be doing the driving, but the human element has been removed. In the 21st century we are on the cusp of antonymous driving vehicles becoming a reality but there are still many bugs and obstacles to be dealt with before they become widespread or even accepted in people’s minds.

Digital Photo Editing: In the film, the investigation involved the use of a digital sketch artist portable computer programme whereby hair and facial features are swapped in and out until an image of the suspect is arrived at.

Drones: In Runaway, “floater” drones equipped with cameras are used by the police to investigate a dangerous criminal situation. These days drones are used for this purpose as well as by citizens for personal recreation. Drones are also used for delivering goods to people, in search and rescue operations, in archaeology (photogrammetry), for peacetime and wartime surveillance, stealth targeting and bombing of adversaries during conflict and so on.

Smart Weapons: In the film, Luther employs a smart bullet pistol that fires smart bullets that use a heat-seeking system to target their victim. The bullets can swiftly and deftly change course mid-flight and maneuver around corners before striking their target and exploding. In our time we have become accustomed to hearing and using the term “smart” weapons – a euphemism for disgusting products of mankind’s warped sense of morality and Luther-like mentality. (More on smart bullet technology-

See YouTube Video)

Tablets: Some the officers in the film handle what appear to be the equivalent of our tablet computers. Bobby using his screen device under the bed covers at night is something all too familiar to today’s parents.

Video Doorbells & Home Surveillance: In the film a video doorbell / entrance door recorder is used in the investigation to check the video messages.

Voice Activated & Interactive Technology: We see and hear Ramsay verbally interacting with both his household Robot, Lois as well as with the Vectrocon Company’s computer. In our own time, we are becoming more accustomed to doing the same with devices like Google Assistant & Alexa, as well as with more and more sophisticated conversational and generative forms of Artificial Intelligence.

Wireless & Bluetooth: In Runaway what uncannily resembles modern bluetooth earpieces are used by the police officers to communicate with one another.

Concluding Thoughts

Runaway portrays a near-future world that in 1984 would have been well within the realms of possibility for audiences, while for 21st century audiences it presents scenarios that are becoming all too familiar. The film is not simply a cautionary tale about the evils of technology. Instead, technology is presented as being a pervasive part of our lives and is not necessarily inherently evil. In fact, technology assists humanity in so many ways but the problem arises when it winds up in the wrong hands and is used for nefarious purposes.

Another aspect of technology is voiced by Ramsay when he says to Karen, that “relationships don’t work right, People don’t work right. People make machines, so why should machines be perfect?” This is something we are coming to grips with today as our lives are being more and more regulated by algorithms. What happens when our negative human traits, foibles, prejudices and biases are built into the devices we use? In addition, when does technological assistance and enhancement turn into dependence and with what consequences?

The role of the media, particularly television journalism comes in for a deal of scrutiny and criticism. Consider the intrusiveness of reporter, Miss Shields as she keeps popping up and sticking her microphone in Ramsay’s face in search of the angle and the story despite the tragic scene unfolding and the safety of others present. Then there is the cameraman who enters the house after Ramsay in a quest for an exclusive shot of the baby’s rescue despite the danger to himself, the baby being held hostage by the robot as well as to Ramsay who is trying to effect its rescue. Of course, the cameraman puts himself in danger and pays with his life. It isn’t very long though before he is replaced by another cameraman.

I’m not sure if anyone in 1984 could have foreseen how the much the media landscape would change over the course of 40 years. We’ve seen via a major technological development, a significant move away from (and distrust toward) traditional mainstream media to more fragmented and polarized forms of social media. Truth, fact and evidence have been replaced by “alternative” forms of “truth’ and “fact.” Shouting of unsubstantiated opinions have replaced reasoned debate and argument. Prejudice and emotionalism often colour our view of people and events. Misinformation and disinformation now seem to reign supreme. A lot can happen in just 40 years, much that tends to recur again and again in various forms, some of which can be foreseen and others that can never be imagined or expected and will take us by surprise. Consider the next 40 years……...you would be (if you don't live that long) and will (if you do) be surprised!

FULL MOVIE LINK


Speaking of technology, imagine how surprised people would have been back in 1984 by our ability to achieve the following using Artificial Intelligence....


BONUS: A review of “Runaway” by Chat gpt

"Runaway" is a 1984 science fiction film directed and written by Michael Crichton, starring Tom Selleck, Cynthia Rhodes, and Gene Simmons. The film is set in a futuristic world where robots have become a common part of everyday life, serving various functions, from household chores to heavy industrial work. Tom Selleck plays the role of Sergeant Jack Ramsay, a police officer in a specialized unit tasked with dealing with runaway robots, i.e., those robots that have malfunctioned and pose a threat to society.

The plot follows Ramsay as he investigates a series of mysterious incidents involving robots going rogue, leading to deadly consequences. His quest for answers leads him to the brilliant but unhinged scientist Dr. Charles Luther, portrayed by Gene Simmons, who has developed a new generation of killer robots and plans to use them for nefarious purposes. Ramsay must stop Luther and prevent a potential catastrophe, all while contending with various deadly robotic threats and navigating a futuristic, tech-savvy world.

Here's a brief review of "Runaway":

"Runaway" is a solid science fiction thriller that effectively explores the potential dangers of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. The film offers a glimpse into a future where technology has become both a boon and a curse, raising questions about the ethical implications of AI and its potential for misuse. Tom Selleck delivers a convincing performance as the rugged and resourceful police officer, and Gene Simmons brings a sinister charisma to his role as the unhinged scientist.

The movie is well-paced, with plenty of action sequences and suspenseful moments to keep viewers engaged. Michael Crichton's direction and the practical effects used to create the robotic antagonists contribute to the film's overall authenticity and tension. The film also benefits from a well-realized futuristic setting, featuring imaginative technology and gadgets that were ahead of their time in 1984.

However, "Runaway" does have some weaknesses, including moments of questionable dialogue and character development. The storyline may seem somewhat predictable at times, and the film's depiction of technology and its potential risks may come across as dated when viewed through a modern lens. Nevertheless, it remains an enjoyable and thought-provoking addition to the science fiction genre, especially for fans of '80s sci-fi cinema.

In summary, "Runaway" is a competent and entertaining science fiction thriller that explores the dark side of advanced technology. It offers a mix of action, suspense, and ethical dilemmas, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre, as well as those interested in the intersection of technology and society.

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(Me again!)

I remember back in 1984 or thereabouts, I was using an Apple iie computer that had green text on a small screen, commands that had to entered by the user and with big floppy discs that had programs like Bank Street Writer (old ancestor of Word and equivalents) that had to be inserted into a slot in the computer. Forty years on and we’re on the cusp of quantum computing! I sometimes wonder if we should bring back the ‘80s, with women with big hair and all!

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©Chris Christopoulos 2023