Decades later, unsettling ideas presented by horror great Stephen King in “The Running Man” continue to resonate.

Published in 1982 under the pen name Richard Bachman, “The Running Man” is set in a dystopian future in which one massive corporation controls virtually everything. That includes dangerous game shows offering citizens the rare chance to make significant money, the most popular, potentially profitable and dangerous of which is “The Running Man,” a contest requiring survival that, well, no one survives.

First, in 1987, the book was adapted by director Paul Michael Glaser, with action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger starring as promising “Running Man” contestant Ben Richards. The campy movie, which introduces many changes from the book, received mixed reviews at the time of its release and now feels very dated.

Now comes a second adaptation, directed by Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Baby Driver”) and starring Glen Powell as Ben Richards. While much more faithful to the novel, 2025’s “The Running Man” — in theaters this week — borrows some of the over-the-top qualities from its predecessor and, despite cooking up food for thought and delivering plenty of tension, ultimately is a numbing affair.

It’s just a lot, this “Running Man.”

As it begins, Ben is out of work; blacklisted from any subsidiary of that all-powerful corporation, the Network, due to an incident at his construction job, he will have trouble landing any gig. His wife, Sheila (Jayme Lawson, “Sinners”), makes what she can waitressing at a seedy club, but it’s not enough to pay for the medicine their sick baby daughter needs.

“Don’t worry,” Ben says as he holds the young, feverish girl, as they pass a promotion for “The Running Man.” “Daddy isn’t THAT crazy.”

But, of course, he is. After promising Sheila he will compete only in one of the Network’s other shows, even though the payouts aren’t nearly as good, the angry but highly capable Ben is enticed to take part in “The Running Man” by manipulative producer extraordinaire Dan Killian (Josh Brolin, “Weapons”).

Soon, after a brief head start, Ben must be on the lookout for Network-employed Hunters, including the fearsome Evan McCone (Lee Pace, “Foundation”), but also for any viewers interested in reward money for turning him in — or for taking him out themselves. The longer he stays alive — and places required daily video recordings into Network dropboxes — the more money will be sent to his family. If he can beat the incredible odds for 30 days, he’ll be $1 billion richer.

Ben finds help along the way from sympathetic folks played by William H. Macy (“Shameless”), Daniel Ezra (“All American”) and Michael Cera, star of Wright’s largely beloved 2010 action comedy romance, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” None of these characters is all that interesting, save for Cera’s colorful underground revolutionary, Elton Parrakis, but, like the movie overall, he’s the result of too many ideas being crammed into one box.

Similarly uninteresting are Brolin’s Killian — he’s merely another version of countless movie villains over the years — and Colman Domingo’s Bobby “Bobby T” Thompson, the charismatic host of “The Running Man.” (That’s not a knock on “Fear the Walking Dead” and “Sing Sing” standout Domingo, who puts his back into the role.) In retrospect, we like that the first “Running Man” combined Killian and Bobby T into one character — played with gusto by “Family Feud” host Richard Dawson.

The 1987 movie also made something more out of the female character who becomes embroiled in Ben’s chase. In this case, it’s Emilia Jones’ Amelia Williams, who eventually becomes Ben’s hostage-turned-ally. This happens too late in the proceedings for us to buy the bond between the characters — especially disappointing given how the strong performances Jones gives in the Academy Award-winning 2021 film “CODA” and this year’s excellent HBO drama series “Task.”

Most importantly, Powell is solid as the story’s protagonist, but the star of crowd-pleasers such as “Anyone But You” and “Twisters” is a bit too naturally charming for you to completely buy Ben’s anger, as warranted as it may be. On the other hand, the viewers of the game show must fall in love with him and root for him for the story to work, and Powell is more than engaging enough.

Working again with his “Pilgrim” co-writer, Michael Bacall (“21 Jump Street”), Wright is more concerned with blending social commentary with fast-paced action, two things “The Running Man” possesses in abundance.

So, yes, the film invites reflection on topics including class, the government, the power of media manipulation and where society is now, as well as where it’s headed, and it leads to nail-biting through numerous well-executed, frenetically edited action sequences as Ben cheats death again and again. Also, you’ll likely appreciate one obvious but fun nod to the first movie.

Still, watching it left us increasingly worn out by its excesses. Not counting the credits, the movie is just over two hours long, but it feels longer — even as its relentless pace ensures it never drags.

Certainly somewhat prescient, King’s novel is set in 2025, but, its production notes, Wright chalks up this cinematic update’s release coming this year as “a coincidence.” Also perhaps coincidentally, Wright’s “The Running Man” races into theaters a few months after “The Long Walk,” another adaptation of a novel by King published under the name Richard Bachman and set in a dystopian future.

Value may be found in revisiting the dark futures King envisioned those many years ago, but, with “The Running Man” at least, you may be better off going back to the book.

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‘THE RUNNING MAN’

2 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: R (for strong violence, some gore, and language)

Running time: 2:13

How to watch: In theaters Nov. 14

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