The Runner Director Kevin Macdonald on Suspense, Gal Gadot and Keeping Us Guessing

One hour. One chance to save her son. And she cannot stop running. In this episode of the Boomerocity Podcast, Randy Patterson talks with Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald about his Prime Video psychological thriller The Runner, starring Gal Gadot. Gadot portrays Maia Marten, a London lawyer whose run becomes a terrifying race against time after she receives word that her son has been kidnapped. Her instructions force her to keep moving while following the demands of the person controlling her every move. For Randy, one of the most effective things about The Runner was how physically immersive the experience became. As Maia grew increasingly exhausted and desperate, he began feeling some of that exhaustion himself. Meanwhile, there was a mystery to solve. Randy spent the movie trying to figure out who was behind Maia's ordeal — and couldn't. In this exclusive conversation, Macdonald talks about constructing that kind of thriller: maintaining momentum, creating physical and psychological tension, directing Gal Gadot through a demanding performance and giving the audience enough information to keep them guessing without letting them get ahead of the story. The Runner stars Gal Gadot, Damian Lewis, Rory Wilmot and Alfred Enoch and is written by Mark Gibson. The Runner is now streaming on Prime Video. Boomerocity — The Essence of Being a Baby Boomer.