The Runner: Gal Gadon’t

Kathryn joins Melvin to summarize what might be 2026’s punching-bag movie, The Runner, featuring Gal Gadot! The two endure against the film’s confounding plot, poorly edited “action” sequences, and the continued self-inflicted humiliation of Gal Gadot. 

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 20-minutes discussing The Hollywood Reporter’s “‘Resident Evil’ Filmmaker Zach Cregger Reveals the Key Adjustment He Made After Test Screenings” from Brian Davids, specifically how Cregger cut-back on the jokes, and why tone is so important in horror. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Melvin & Kathryn are convinced that the majority of the film is Gal Gadot’s stunt-double with Gal’s face super-imposed over their body.
• Melvin tries to go into movies with a bad reputation thinking to himself, “Well, maybe it won’t be as bad as people say.”… but sometimes people are right.
• Is the movie confusing, or a plain mess?
• Maybe they’re just “too woke”, but Melvin & Kathryn agree there’s a moment in the middle of The Runner that gives them the ick.
• Kathryn cuts to the chase, “I do not like this storyline.”
• Talking the “Gal Gadot” problem.
• Kathryn reveals something that Melvin missed… something that bums him out!

Recommendations:

• Cheap Magic Inside by Beirut (2011) (Music Video)
• Colony (Gunche) (2026) (Movie)

The Runner is Rated PG-13 for violent content/some bloody images, some sexual material, strong language and a drug reference. It features Gal Gadot, Damian Lewis, Rory Wilmot, and Alfred Enoch. Directed by Kevin Macdonald. The Runner is available here.

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Melvin Benson is the Founder, Editor-In-Chief, and Lead Host of Cinematic Doctrine. Whether it’s a movie, show, game, comic, or novel, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s rich, he’s ready and willing to give it a try! His hope is to see King Jesus glorified as far as the east is from the west!

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