Overview of Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels and Kyle Rankin’s Vision
This interview features writer-director Kyle Rankin discussing Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels, a Daily Wire action thriller that follows an ISIS terror plot unfolding on an American college campus. Rankin frames the film as a spiritual follow-up to Run, Hide, Fight rather than a traditional sequel, with the goal of delivering a fast-paced, emotionally grounded, 80s/90s-style action movie that still engages with current political and cultural tensions.
Key Takeaways
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The film is designed as an old-school action thriller
- Rankin says he wanted the movie to feel like a big, entertaining action film from the 1980s or 1990s.
- He emphasizes that the first job of the movie is to entertain audiences for two hours.
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The story is intentionally provocative
- The premise centers on a pro-Palestinian protest becoming a gateway for real terrorism on a college campus.
- Rankin says he prefers to take risks rather than make safe, diluted films.
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He sees Hollywood as increasingly out of touch
- Rankin argues that mainstream Hollywood often relies on generic villains and avoids more realistic threats.
- He believes the industry is still slow to embrace projects that challenge left-leaning orthodoxies.
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Independent production gave him creative freedom
- He says Daily Wire gave him a “long leash” and far fewer bureaucratic hurdles than a Hollywood studio would.
- That freedom helped him move quickly from concept to finished film.
Behind the Scenes of the Production
Fast Turnaround
- Rankin first got the call around September of the previous year.
- He wrote the script in about three months.
- The film went from development to premiere within roughly one year, which he says is unusually fast for a feature.
Location and Logistics
- The team found and used a defunct college campus in Gaffney, South Carolina.
- Having full access to the campus helped streamline production and gave the filmmakers control over the environment.
- Rankin notes that many colleges close every year, which made finding a suitable location easier than expected.
Shooting Schedule
- The movie was shot in 26 days.
- Rankin says that was tight for an ambitious ensemble film and that he would have preferred about 35 days.
- He describes the shoot as fast-moving and demanding, but ultimately rewarding.
Budget and Effects
- The reported budget was around $6 million.
- Rankin highlights the use of practical effects and says he enjoys the “clockmaker” nature of action filmmaking—carefully designing cause-and-effect sequences so the action lands emotionally and visually.
Themes and Creative Intent
Characters First
- Rankin says he has to care about the characters before he can make the movie work.
- He intentionally tried to give each major character:
- a desire,
- a struggle,
- and a payoff or arc.
Ensemble Storytelling
- He wanted to avoid disposable characters and make even the supporting cast feel meaningful.
- The college students in the story are meant to grow and respond to the crisis in ways that reflect collective responsibility.
Bigger Idea Behind the Film
- Beyond the action, Rankin says the film is about:
- how people respond to danger together,
- protecting communities,
- and what Americans can do in the face of ideological and physical threats.
- He contrasts this with the first Run, Hide, Fight, which focused more narrowly on self-defense and survival.
Working with the Cast and Crew
- Rankin praises the cast for being collaborative and professional.
- He says major-name talent can elevate the set, especially when they treat the lead role as a responsibility to the whole production.
- He also credits the crew and producer Dallas Sonnier for balancing creativity with practical constraints.
- The editing process was highly involved, with Rankin working closely with editor Jared Bentley and stress-testing scenes to tighten the final cut.
Notable Insight
“I hope they are entertained. I hope they forget their troubles for two hours.”
That line captures Rankin’s core goal: make a film that works first as a gripping action movie, while still carrying political and thematic weight underneath.
Bottom Line
This episode is both a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels and a broader conversation about independent filmmaking, Hollywood politics, and the appetite for unapologetic genre movies. Rankin presents the project as fast-made, high-energy, and deliberately provocative—built to entertain while pushing into controversial cultural territory.