Hollywood Insider - News Entertainment & Culture

Substance & Meaningful Entertainment

Against Gossip & Scandal

Independent Media Network

Global Stories From Local Perspective

Factual Culture News

The Hollywood Insider Outsiders, No Running Review

Photo: ‘Outsiders’

Note: ‘Outsiders’ is also known as ‘No Running’ 

As a genre, horror serves as a reflection of societal fears at the time. Trends in what horror deems to be scary can be traced back to global events and societal influences. During the Cold War, alien invasions and science fiction were popular in horror films, as people feared outside forces and harmful scientific advancement. In the 1980s, vampires had a resurgence, serving as a reflection of the AIDS crisis, representing the fear of infection through blood and intimacy. Trends in horror are constantly changing to reflect modern fears. 

Related article: OSCAR-NOMINATED – EXCLUSIVE: ‘Dune’ Full Commentary, Reactions, Making Of – Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac

Related article: OSCAR-NOMINATED – ‘House of Gucci’ Full Commentary & Behind the Scenes – Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Al Pacino

Related article: OSCAR-NOMINATED – ‘Belfast’ Full Commentary & BTS – Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench

Related article: OSCAR-NOMINATED – ‘West Side Story’ Full Commentary – Rita Moreno, Steven Spielberg, Rachel Zegler

Related article: OSCAR-NOMINATED – ‘No Time to Die’ Full Commentary, Behind the Scenes & Reactions, Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Bond

Today, one of the biggest influences on horror is racism and prejudice. Jordan Peele is arguably the best-known name in social-conscious horror, with films such as ‘Get Out’ and ‘Us’ acting as both horror films and social commentaries on living in America as a Black person (‘Get Out’ in a direct sense, and ‘Us’ as subtextual context). The 2020s is a decade of calling attention to prejudice and standing up for what’s right, and modern horror shows just how prevalent this is. Delmar Washington’s feature directorial debut ‘Outsiders’ goes to prove this. While ‘Outsiders’ is not a traditional horror, it is a sci-fi thriller about what it means to be Black today. 

The Beginning: A Slice of Life 

Teenager Jaylen Brown (Skylan Brooks) was just a regular kid at the beginning of the film. The film establishes a very mundane life for Jaylen, he fights with his older sister for power over the bathroom and entertains his baby sister over breakfast. He does part-time work after school and steps up to take responsibility when his mom goes to night classes. The biggest horror elements at the beginning of the film are off-handed mentions of Jaylen’s nightmares and ominous news on the radio in the background. 

Related article: All Best Actor/Actress Speeches From The Beginning Of Oscars 1929-2019 | Hollywood Insider

Related article: EVOLUTION: Every Henry Cavill Role From 2001 to 2021, All Performances Exceptionally Poignant

Related article: EVOLUTION: Every Chris Evans Role From 1997 to 2020, All Performances Exceptionally Poignant

Related article: ‘In the Heights’ Full Commentary & Behind the Scenes +  Reactions – Lin Manuel Miranda, John M. Chu

Jaylen and his sister, Simone (Diamond White), attend a Halloween party before the sci-fi aspects kick-off. On the way to the party (they forgo driving in favor of boating from the lake house to lake house), the pair provides exposition. Their lives aren’t perfect, they moved to a new town after an incident between Jaylen and their abusive stepdad and their family is the only people of color in the neighborhood, all the way down to the house they live in, which is owned by their white aunt. Still, they proceed as normal teenagers, looking to see their friends and have some fun on Halloween, and that’s exactly what they do… until the aliens come. 

Aliens, the Police, and a Race Against Time 

When Jaylen’s girlfriend, Amira (Clark Backo) is abducted by aliens, he immediately tries to save her. He tells everyone what happened and searches for a solution, but, in his predominantly white town, everyone assumes that Jaylen is the one who killed her. The school system and the police department are quick to draw the conclusion that Jaylen must be dangerous and view him as the only possible suspect. The corrupt systems in power give Jaylen no chance to prove his innocence and commence a search, aiming to find and arrest Jaylen. 

Jaylen’s goal of rescuing Amira is complicated by his need to avoid the police and stay hidden, but that doesn’t stop him from trying. The film is incredibly suspenseful as Jaylen finds himself in sticky situations, narrowly avoiding capture as he searches for clues. Although aliens took Amira, the police department is the primary antagonist in the story. Jaylen was always sympathetic, even if the steps he took to clear his name were morally gray. 

Related article: Why Queen Elizabeth II Is One Of The Greatest Monarchs | Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of United Queendom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (Video Insight)

Limited Time Offer – FREE Subscription to The Hollywood Insider

Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy.

Related article: #metoo Revolution: Powerful Questions That Need Answers

Related article: FACT-CHECKED Series: Timothee Chalamet and 32 Facts about The Young Superstar

‘No Running’ – A Powerful Message about Racial Bias 

The viewer stays with Jaylen throughout the duration of the film, making the racism he experiences all the more impactful. We know from the beginning that Jaylen is innocent and see those he trusted turn against him as they succumb to racist assumptions. The entire town assumes Jaylen is a cold-blooded killer, but as the viewers, we know the truth. Jaylen is not a criminal, in fact, he’s doing all he can to solve the mystery of Amira’s disappearance. Jaylen’s best friend, Trevor (Hart Denton), even began to believe that Jaylen may be guilty, stating that it is reasonable for people to assume the worst of him. 

The violence in the film is shocking at times, but never unjustifiable. Trevor lures Jaylen into a trap, aiming to attack him with a group of jocks. The former police chief drunkenly fires a shotgun at Jaylen, and Jaylen flinches whenever he interacts with the police, even before Amira’s disappearance. This is a look into what it means to live as a Black man in America, especially in predominantly white areas. It’s uncomfortable and hard to watch, but it’s reality. Just because the truth is ugly doesn’t make it any less true. 

Related article: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase: “The Importance of Venice Film Festival as the Protector of Cinema”

Related article: The Masters of Cinema Archives: The Hollywood Insider Pays Tribute to ‘La Vie En Rose’, Exclusive Interview with Director Olivier Dahan

Related article: – Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY

What Worked, What Could Work Better 

Skylan Brooks gave an impeccable performance as Jaylen. Despite his young age, Brooks is a seasoned actor and no stranger to stardom. Brooks gave so much life and emotion to Jaylen even in mundane scenes. The film was beautifully shot and looked like a fresh take on classic sci-fi. The film was colorful, but the colors were muted; It was the perfect combination of 80s science fiction influences and a reflection of the grim reality of the film. The premise, actors, and cinematography all combined to create a strong film. 

Related article: MUST WATCH – The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s Love Letter to Black Lives Matter – VIDEO

Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here.

Because the aliens are not the primary antagonist of the story, the lore surrounding them was not as strong as I’d want it to be. We follow Jaylen as he attempts to solve the mystery of the aliens, but never reaches a conclusion. I was invested in each step on the way to piecing together the puzzle and was disappointed that I didn’t get to see the final picture. This, however, is only a small complaint and does not take away from the film’s overall effectiveness. ‘Outsiders’ is an interesting, investing film with an important message, a single con, lack of alien lore is nowhere near overtaking the long list of pros. 

Cast & Crew 

Cast: Skylan Brooks, Hart Denton, Clark Backo, Diamond White 

Director: Delmar Washington

Writer: Tucker Morgan

By Lara Glennon

Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.

I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV. media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.

More Interesting Stories From The Hollywood Insider

Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY

A Tribute to Martin Scorsese: A Complete Analysis of the Life and Career of the Man Who Lives and Breathes Cinema 

Do you know the hidden messages in ‘Call Me By Your Name’? Find out behind the scenes facts in the full commentary and In-depth analysis of the cinematic masterpiece

A Tribute To The Academy Awards: All Best Actor/Actress Speeches From The Beginning Of Oscars 1929-2019 | From Rami Malek, Leonardo DiCaprio To Denzel Washington, Halle Berry & Beyond | From Olivia Colman, Meryl Streep To Bette Davis & Beyond

In the 32nd Year Of His Career, Keanu Reeves’ Face Continues To Reign After Launching Movies Earning Over $4.3 Billion In Total – “John Wick”, “Toy Story 4”, “Matrix”, And Many More

no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running, no running

Author

  • Lara Glennon

    Lara Glennon is an aspiring screenwriter looking to share her love and passion for all things film and television. She aims to use her writing to shine a light on artists who are working to make change, both in media and in the world. The Hollywood Insider's focus on substance over gossip is perfect for Lara, as she wants to highlight the good in the world and those who create it. She enjoys spending her time creating and consuming art, searching for unique voices and ideas in media.

    View all posts
Website It Up