Zeus

A prominent place in film's science fiction genre

Posted by J.R. Fanchalsky on Jun 28th 2026

I waited a very long time to acquire my own copy of "Logan's Run." Thank you, Zeus, for making it available.
Unfortunately, although the premise of the story is intriguing, and the novel on which it is based may have hit its mark, the film comes up short. Short in terms of storytelling quality, not at all in terms of length. At nearly two hours, it truly belabors the story it tries to tell. (I don't mind a film being long at all; some of the best are--think "Seven Samurai" and "Das Boot" at three and and half to nearly four hours, respectively--but it must tell its story throughout.
This shortcoming lies first and foremost in a poorly written screenplay trying to portray too many dystopian views of the future. Second, there is a sluggish pacing of scenes in both the first half, taking place in the shopping mall-like geodesic dome city, and the second half outdoor trek in search of freedom in Sanctuary which is ultimately revealed as a myth, prompting a fourth act return to the city which results in a weak resolution. The director should have definitely remedied this. Third, the script has simple, repetitious dialogue that didn't improve on its lameness as the actors echoed themselves and each other.
The most successful thing about "Logan's Run" was its use of a fairly new technology for the time by getting a good film-making grasp on using holograms which earned it a special category Oscar.
I felt sorry for the really good actors who got stuck in a film that didn't fulfill its science fiction premise, claim of action film, hype, or making a satisfyingly strong moral statement at the end. Michael York, Jenny Agutter, and Richard Jordan, playing the leading younger character roles, labored to bring life to the overall leaden script. All have since proved themselves to be excellent actors with many successes over long careers. And the somewhat more senior Peter Ustinov as the "old man," a much-accomplished actor in a variety of roles over a lifetime, was given little character to develop beyond muttering his lines and looking the old man part in his makeup.
Last point: I viewed the film twice before writing this review. I wanted to bring its positive points to the fore as well as its shortcomings, for the discriminating viewer.
It is a notable film for its time. It has first rate actors. "Logan's Run" definitely has a recognized place in film history's science fiction genre, but it's certainly no "Blade Runner" or "Blade Runner 2049." Purchase it with these considerations in mind.