Logan’s Run

Logan’s Run (1976)

Image From IMDB

In the distance future after we’ve completely ruined the planet humanity has moved underground where only the young and beautiful can live––the latter isn’t a rule, but there didn’t seem to be any ugo’s around. Despite the colourful dress code and freeing sexual lifestyle everything isn’t quite as happy as it seems. The main issue being, once you’re turn thirty, you’re killed… or renewed, depending on your beliefs.

When Sandman, Logan (Michael York) learns that renewal is pretty much bullshit and he’s been skipped to the head of the termination queue in order to hunt down a place called Sanctuary––where the Runners supposedly hide––he begins to uncover a larger conspiracy about the state of the human race, and the truth behind the life crystals.

I absolutely love Logan’s Run. It’s always been a favourite and definitely one of the stronger pre Star Wars Sci-Fi’s in my mind. It captured my imagination right from the beginning with the fantastic model underground city and Scalextric cars and trains zooming around it. I loved the high flying Renewal wirework and the fabulous dress code. Seriously… is there a sexier sci-fi than Logan’s Run?

The whole Sandman Runner dynamic was pure dystopian, and the different sectors of the city was world building I could get behind. The lifestyles of everyone felt so unique and different from other sci-fi’s of the time, and since. Everything from the casual sexual relationships to the colour and renewal. The way birth and death was controlled. The body altercations. Everything was just a little crazier than I’d seen before.

The story itself is kind of nuts and gets pretty odd when a robot turns up and people are on ice, but fuck it, it’s all part of the fun. The T.S Elliot quotes are great, and seeing Washington overgrown and empty was a highlight.

I liked all the cast with Michael York and Jenny Agutter’s strange relationship taking centre stage, and Richard Jordans Francis steals every scene he’s in from the moment he wakes all the babies or screams ‘Run Runners!’ He’s an absolute joy.

Logan’s run is bizarre colourful fun mixed with high concept ideas. There might be the odd pacing issue, and I really can’t explain the robot, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s a film that captures the imagination and shows there’s absolutely no reason for CGI with its fantastic model work, double exposures, wirework and costumes. It’s a classic, and a film i’ll return to over and over again.