PASSENGER: Are We Along For the Ride?

PASSENGER picked a bold weekend to release, as there is another much bigger film releasing that will certainly attract attention. It is a low-budget horror film from Paramount Pictures whose marketing was scarce and didn’t offer much in terms of what the film was about. However, despite all of this, it is a well-crafted film that I think shouldn’t be slept on. It is directed by Andre Ovredal and stars Jacob Scipio as Tyler and Lou Llobell as Maddie, a couple who have turned in normal life for the open road and life in a van.

On the Road Again

The film joins other road trip films such as Joy Ride, Jeepers Creepers, and more, where the open road is more frightening and a lesson in why you should never stop to investigate anything. The opening of the film is what we see in the trailer as two guys driving down a dark road at night stop to use the bathroom, and from there it’s an opening with some jumps to set the tone. The film then picks up with Tyler and Maddie, who have given up their Brooklyn apartment and are taking on life in a van. It’s a Millennial’s dream, dumping all responsibilities of life to travel the country answering to nobody.

What the film does well is tie in the opening sequence of the film into the bigger plot as the duo is passed by the car from the opening, which then crashes, to which they stop to help and call 911. This is when the demonic entity latches onto them, and the scares begin. The duo stops at a van meet known as Burning Van, and Maddie is offered a stark warning about never driving at night or stopping. There is a lot of simplicity to the plot and with the characters, which does the film a favor. Horror is a genre that finds its makers often trying to outsmart the audience or even themselves to deliver the big punches.

This isn’t the case here, and the film has plenty of jump scare which work for the film and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. The big moments of the film land, such as the parking lot sequence where Maddie is being followed as she leaves a 24-hour fitness, and it sets up a mind-bending scene in which the van keeps appearing further away, and the use of modern technology, such as dash cams, works to add depth to the scene. Another is the big reveal in the woods when the duo is watching a film, and the Passenger arrives to torment them. The biggest praise, however, is that the main characters do not make stupid classic mistakes that we would normally see.

Tyler believes Maddie from the start, and they begin to work on a plan instantly. It’s refreshing to see well-written characters who, rather than ignore and set themselves up to die, instead make the right decisions. The finale was a blend of psychological horror and classic let’s kill the demon, which is steeped in intriguing lore. While the film may largely be skipped due to its release date, I suggest horror fans make it a point to see this one. Horror fans are willing to sit through a lot in hopes of finding one film that hits, and the genre itself has had a decent run as of late. This is another example, it’s not flashy or sexy, but that’s what works. Its 94-minute run time is perfect and is a fun watch in the theater.

Overall Grade: 3.5/5

Let us know your thoughts if you have seen the film, and as always, check out more reviews by Matt! PASSENGER is in theaters now!