By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Both the movie and its soundtrack are hitting next month.
Shudder has announced that it will debut THE RUNNER in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand Sunday, January 16. Written, directed and produced by Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller of the darkwave outfit Boy Harsher, THE RUNNER, according to the official synopsis, “follows a strange woman as she travels to a secluded, rural town where her violent compulsions are slowly revealed. The story intertwines with Boy Harsher performing on a public access channel. Their music scores the strange woman’s descent deeper into the unknown.” The cast is headed by musician Kris Esfandiari (King Woman), performance artist Sigrid Lauren (FlucT) and musician Cooper B. Handy (Lucy).
Shudder’s PR further details the movie’s creation: “Last year, in the midst of the global pandemic as well as Matthews’ MS diagnosis, Muller started working on moody, cinematic sketches. It was uncertain what these pieces would become other than catharsis–the duo were unable to tour, and making ‘club music’ did not feel right. In Matthews’ period of convalescence, she kept thinking about a sinister character: a woman running through the woods. Together, the duo developed this idea further into a film that explores lust, compulsion, and the horrific tendencies of seduction. The movie is intercut with a meta-style ‘documentary’ about Boy Harsher’s recording process.”
The original soundtrack album for THE RUNNER will be released January 21 by Nude Club/City Slang, and “features the dark pop that Boy Harsher is known for alongside eerie, cinematic instrumentals.” For more on THE RUNNER, hit up its official website.
