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Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'The Running Man' to 'Squid Game'—Why We're All Obsessed With Death Games
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As Edgar Wright's trailer for The Running Man trends online ahead of its November release, the popularity of the upcoming film and its predecessor signals our recurring fascination with dystopian spectacles where survival becomes entertainment. From Netflix's record-breaking Squid Game to the enduring legacy of The Hunger Games, so-called "death game shows" continue to grip the public imagination—particularly among millennial and Gen Z viewers. The new adaptation of The Running Man, based on Stephen King's 1982 novel, follows a long line of stories centered around human lives being wagered for fame, fortune or spectacle. Experts say these stories, sometimes framed as critiques of capitalism or authoritarianism, have entered mainstream entertainment in a time of increasing digital surveillance, income inequality and disconnection. "While there is some intrinsic attraction to violence at play," Jordan Conrad, a psychotherapist and founder of Madison Park Psychotherapy, told Newsweek. "Perhaps the larger component drawing audiences to the 'death game show' genre is the increasing sense of alienation felt by so many people." From left: Mascots pose at the experiential launch event for "Squid Game" season two at Kraftwerk on December 12, 2024 in Berlin, Germany; and actor Jennifer Lawrence on the set of the film "The Hunger... From left: Mascots pose at the experiential launch event for "Squid Game" season two at Kraftwerk on December 12, 2024 in Berlin, Germany; and actor Jennifer Lawrence on the set of the film "The Hunger Games" in North Carolina, 2011. More Getty Images Conrad, also a published philosopher with contributions to multiple Oxford Handbooks, said the enduring genre reflects how depersonalized many feel in a system that appears to prioritize metrics over meaning. "Our social interactions are increasingly mediated by programs that we know are surveilling us; our romantic lives have been taken over by apps, and stable features of the 'good life' feel ever out of reach for the average person," Conrad said. "The sum total of this is that our lives feel commodified—the most-important thing about us is our data." Originally adapted for film in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role, The Running Man portrayed a dystopia where selected individuals are forced to fight to the death on live TV. Decades later, The Hunger Games modernized the concept for a young adult audience, highlighting class divisions and authoritarian spectacle. Then came Squid Game, which exploded globally in 2021 by reframing childhood games as lethal contests for desperate debtors. These stories can be seen as more than just violent thrillers crafted for entertainment, or as marketing ploys put together by producers who noticed rising public interest in true crime. For younger audiences, they reflect growing anxieties about survival in an increasingly transactional world—and what people are willing to sacrifice for security or relevance. Conrad draws a parallel between these fictional worlds and the rise of viral internet stunts that degrade or exploit others for public attention. "Many prominent internet 'celebrities' have become famous for doing awful things—spraying vegetables in supermarkets with poisonous chemicals; licking ice-cream in the store and putting it back; giving unhoused people Oreos filled with toothpaste," Conrad said. "These are also the behaviors we see in the 'death game show' genre—people enhancing or maintaining their position by getting others, often vulnerable people, to perform degrading and dangerous tasks for the camera." Edgar Wright and Glen Powell promote the upcoming film "The Running Man" at the Paramount Pictures presentation during CinemaCon at Caesars Palace on April 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Edgar Wright and Glen Powell promote the upcoming film "The Running Man" at the Paramount Pictures presentation during CinemaCon at Caesars Palace on April 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images Streaming services and social-media platforms have further blurred the line between viewer and participant, pushing users into performative roles where attention is currency and personal value is algorithmically determined. Conrad's observations reach beyond generational grievances. He draws on 19th- and 20th-century thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre and Frantz Fanon, who also grappled with the meaning of life under alienating systems. Other films, while not fitting the "death game" mold precisely, offer adjacent critiques. Bong Joon Ho's Parasite and Ruben Östlund's Triangle of Sadness examine the moral and social costs of status obsession. Bo Burnham's claustrophobic comedy special Inside dissects the mental strain of living in a hyper-digital society. "Because the essential features of the 'death game show' are the commodification of humanity … and the feeling of the meaninglessness of life, many other movies join the genre," Conrad said. "When prestige is synonymous with value … life can feel futile when you are so far away from having any." As Wright's update of The Running Man approaches theatrical release, its timely return suggests this fascination is far from fading.
Time Out
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The UK's best seaside town has been crowned – and it's just 90 minutes from London
London in the heat can be absolutely glorious, but it can also get a bit unbearable. So, we wouldn't blame you for wanting to escape the clammy city temperatures for somewhere more fresh and airy over the summer. Need some inspo? Well, now that beach season is finally upon us, Time Out's writers have ranked their favourite seaside towns in the UK for a summer getaway. And our number one spot happens to be within very easy reach of the capital city. Time Out's top UK seaside town for 2025 is Margate. Londoners can get there from London Victoria, St Pancras or London Bridge, with journeys normally lasting around an hour and a half to an hour and 50 minutes. One-way prices start from just £12, so how could you resist? Chiara Wilkinson, Time Out's deputy editor, said: 'Once a sleepy coastal town, [Margate is] now a cool creative hotspot – it's even (dare we say it) deserving of its new nickname, ' Hackney on sea'. But it's not all about being annoyingly trendy. There's a real charm to this strip of Kentish coast, where golden sands and fading arcades compliment a buzzing art scene and thriving hospitality offering.' Once you're there, Margate really does have something to satisfy every taste. For culture fiends, there's the Turner Contemporary and Tom Thumb Theatre; for foodies, we recommend the barbecued octopus paired with seasonal wine at Pomus or the famous anchovies at Sargasso; for revellers, there's the LGBTQ+ hoedown, Queer Cxntry, and for water babies, there's the Walpole Bay Tidal Pool, the largest saltwater pool in the UK. Plus, no one can miss Dreamland or the Grade I-listed Shell Grotto. Explore the rest of the very best things to see and do in Margate here. Number two on our list was the Yorkshire fishing town of Whitby, a place that we said 'exudes more gothic splendour than David Bowie in The Hunger '. And in third place was Brighton (also a short trip from London), for its parties, pubs and pebbled beach. The best seaside towns in the UK, according to Time Out.
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Nicolas Cage gets mistaken for Nick Cave 'every day'
Nicolas Cage gets mistaken for Nick Cave every day. The actor admitted there is a lot of confusion around the similar names he and the Australian singer have, something he was quick to point out to the 67-year-old musician when they met. He told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't think there's a day that goes by where I'm not mistaken for Nick Cave. "People also say, 'Hey, Nick, you were great in 'The Hunger'', which is this great David Bowie movie (that I'm not in). "I do remember that Cave was very nice. We were at an animal sanctuary, I believe – I think Sealy Animal Hospital in Texas – and he was terrific. I said hello and wanted to shake his hand. "I said, 'Only one letter separates us – G. Nick Cave, Nick Cage.' " Despite being known for his eccentric ways, Nicolas - who has Weston, 34, and Kal-El, 19, from previous relationships, and two-year-old August with wife Riko Shibata - insisted he is actually boring and rarely socialises beyond his family. Asked what about him would surprise people most, he said: " ... people have an idea about me from the characters they've seen me play in movies. But the reality is, I bore myself. I don't really go out. I'm at home all the time. " I'd rather just spend time with my two year old, and I don't really go and socialise. Not that I'm antisocial, but I have my daughter and I have my little life that I enjoy and it's pretty simple, so perhaps that would be a surprise." Nicolas Cage gets mistaken for Nick Cave every day. The actor admitted there is a lot of confusion around the similar names he and the Australian singer have, something he was quick to point out to the 67-year-old musician when they met. He told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't think there's a day that goes by where I'm not mistaken for Nick Cave. "People also say, 'Hey, Nick, you were great in 'The Hunger'', which is this great David Bowie movie (that I'm not in). "I do remember that Cave was very nice. We were at an animal sanctuary, I believe – I think Sealy Animal Hospital in Texas – and he was terrific. I said hello and wanted to shake his hand. "I said, 'Only one letter separates us – G. Nick Cave, Nick Cage.' " Despite being known for his eccentric ways, Nicolas - who has Weston, 34, and Kal-El, 19, from previous relationships, and two-year-old August with wife Riko Shibata - insisted he is actually boring and rarely socialises beyond his family. Asked what about him would surprise people most, he said: " ... people have an idea about me from the characters they've seen me play in movies. But the reality is, I bore myself. I don't really go out. I'm at home all the time. " I'd rather just spend time with my two year old, and I don't really go and socialise. Not that I'm antisocial, but I have my daughter and I have my little life that I enjoy and it's pretty simple, so perhaps that would be a surprise." Nicolas Cage gets mistaken for Nick Cave every day. The actor admitted there is a lot of confusion around the similar names he and the Australian singer have, something he was quick to point out to the 67-year-old musician when they met. He told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't think there's a day that goes by where I'm not mistaken for Nick Cave. "People also say, 'Hey, Nick, you were great in 'The Hunger'', which is this great David Bowie movie (that I'm not in). "I do remember that Cave was very nice. We were at an animal sanctuary, I believe – I think Sealy Animal Hospital in Texas – and he was terrific. I said hello and wanted to shake his hand. "I said, 'Only one letter separates us – G. Nick Cave, Nick Cage.' " Despite being known for his eccentric ways, Nicolas - who has Weston, 34, and Kal-El, 19, from previous relationships, and two-year-old August with wife Riko Shibata - insisted he is actually boring and rarely socialises beyond his family. Asked what about him would surprise people most, he said: " ... people have an idea about me from the characters they've seen me play in movies. But the reality is, I bore myself. I don't really go out. I'm at home all the time. " I'd rather just spend time with my two year old, and I don't really go and socialise. Not that I'm antisocial, but I have my daughter and I have my little life that I enjoy and it's pretty simple, so perhaps that would be a surprise." Nicolas Cage gets mistaken for Nick Cave every day. The actor admitted there is a lot of confusion around the similar names he and the Australian singer have, something he was quick to point out to the 67-year-old musician when they met. He told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't think there's a day that goes by where I'm not mistaken for Nick Cave. "People also say, 'Hey, Nick, you were great in 'The Hunger'', which is this great David Bowie movie (that I'm not in). "I do remember that Cave was very nice. We were at an animal sanctuary, I believe – I think Sealy Animal Hospital in Texas – and he was terrific. I said hello and wanted to shake his hand. "I said, 'Only one letter separates us – G. Nick Cave, Nick Cage.' " Despite being known for his eccentric ways, Nicolas - who has Weston, 34, and Kal-El, 19, from previous relationships, and two-year-old August with wife Riko Shibata - insisted he is actually boring and rarely socialises beyond his family. Asked what about him would surprise people most, he said: " ... people have an idea about me from the characters they've seen me play in movies. But the reality is, I bore myself. I don't really go out. I'm at home all the time. " I'd rather just spend time with my two year old, and I don't really go and socialise. Not that I'm antisocial, but I have my daughter and I have my little life that I enjoy and it's pretty simple, so perhaps that would be a surprise."
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Nicolas Cage gets mistaken for Nick Cave every day
Nicolas Cage gets mistaken for Nick Cave every day. The 'Surfer' actor admitted there is a lot of confusion around the similar names he and the Australian singer have, something he was quick to point out to the 67-year-old musician when they met. He told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't think there's a day that goes by where I'm not mistaken for Nick Cave. "People also say, 'Hey, Nick, you were great in 'The Hunger'', which is this great David Bowie movie [that I'm not in]. "I do remember that Cave was very nice. We were at an animal sanctuary, I believe – I think Sealy Animal Hospital in Texas – and he was terrific. I said hello and wanted to shake his hand. "I said, 'Only one letter separates us – G. Nick Cave, Nick Cage.' " Meanwhile, the 61-year-old actor revealed he gave the iconic snakeskin jacket he wore in 'Wild at Heart' to co-star Laura Dern as a reminder of their experience because he had enjoyed working with her so much. He said: "I found the snakeskin jacket in a secondhand store on Melrose in Los Angeles called Aaardvark's – it reminded me of the jacket Brando wears in 'The Fugitive Kind' – and I knew at some point I was gonna put it in a movie. "I ended up giving it to Laura Dern because she was such a terrific actor, I enjoyed our time together on that movie with David Lynch, so I wanted her to have it." Despite being known for his eccentric ways, Nicolas - who has Weston, 34, and Kal-El, 19, from previous relationships, and two-year-old August with wife Riko Shibata - insisted he is actually boring and rarely socialises beyond his family. Asked what about him would surprise people most, he said: "I think people have an idea about me from the characters they've seen me play in movies. But the reality is, I bore myself. I don't really go out. I'm at home all the time. " I'd rather just spend time with my two year old, and I don't really go and socialise. Not that I'm antisocial, but I have my daughter and I have my little life that I enjoy and it's pretty simple, so perhaps that would be a surprise."
