Watch Running Scared

In the action-packed crime thriller Running Scared, Paul Walker stars as Joey Gazelle, a low-level mobster who's tasked with disposing of a gun that was used to kill a corrupt cop during a drug deal gone wrong. However, when Joey's young son and his best friend Oleg (Cameron Bright) get their hands on the gun and end up using it to shoot Oleg's abusive stepfather, Joey finds himself caught up in a vicious cycle of violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to recover the gun before the police can find it and connect it to him and his bosses in the criminal underworld.

From the gritty streets of New Jersey to the seedy underworld of the Russian mafia, Running Scared takes audiences on a wild ride through a world of vice, corruption, and danger. Along the way, Joey must navigate a labyrinthine web of double-crosses, betrayals, and power plays as he tries to keep himself and his loved ones alive while staying one step ahead of his enemies.

Joining Paul Walker in the cast are a host of talented actors, including Cameron Bright as Oleg, a troubled young boy who becomes embroiled in the deadly game of cat and mouse; Chazz Palminteri as Detective Rydell, a hard-nosed cop who's determined to bring down Joey and his associates; Vera Farmiga as Teresa, Joey's long-suffering wife who gets caught up in the chaos of his dangerous lifestyle; and a range of colorful supporting players who bring the film's seedy underworld to life.

One of the most striking aspects of Running Scared is its raw, uncompromising visual style. Director Wayne Kramer employs a wide range of techniques to create a sense of chaos and disorientation, from frenetic camera movements to rapid-fire editing and electric use of color and lighting. The result is a film that feels both hyper-realistic and hyper-stylized, a vibrant and kinetic work that draws audiences into its gritty, dangerous world and doesn't let them go until the final credits roll.

At its core, though, Running Scared is a character-driven thriller that explores themes of family, loyalty, and redemption amidst a world of violence and corruption. As Joey races against time to find the gun and protect his loved ones, he must face a series of moral dilemmas and reckon with the consequences of his actions. Through it all, the film never loses sight of the humanity and vulnerability of its characters, even as they find themselves caught up in a deadly game of survival.

Despite mixed reviews upon its release in 2006, Running Scared has since developed a cult following for its bold visuals, intense action sequences, and strong performances. For fans of gritty crime thrillers that push the boundaries of genre convention, it's a must-see film that packs a major punch.

Running Scared is a 2005 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 41.