A ferociously energetic piece of filmmaking, "Running Scared" makes the seedy Vegas milieu of writer-director Wayne Kramer's first feature, "The Cooler," look as tasteful as "The Sound of Music." ...

Speaking of movies that go over the top, "Running Scared" goes so far over the top it circumnavigates the top and doubles back on itself. I am in awe. It throws in everything but the kitchen sink.

Running through Washington Park at dusk with ghouls and vampires on your coattails might constitute a bad dream most nights, but tonight it’s just the Scream Scram, a spooky way to get in shape for ...