Starring: Kyle Gallner, Johnny Berchtold, Liza Weil
Directed by: Carter Smith
I’d prefer to think that we all have someone keeping an eye out for us (pun-related later in the review, trust me) – perhaps it be a guardian angel, a big brother, or a slightly unhinged fast-food worker with an itchy trigger-finger. Whatever shape the abettor may take, while the guise of protection may be on the surface, what lies deep underneath the levels of existence remain to be seen. As we pull back the cadaver cloth on Director Carter Smith’s latest psychological thriller, THE PASSENGER, we’re going to uncover a multitude of emotions & ethos-twisting instances…buckle up, kiddies – we’re goin’ for a ride.
Starring Johnny Berchtold as Randolph, a mousy, bullied soul who can’t even manage to keep his doting mother at arms’ length, his existence is forlorn at best: unable to speak up for himself and trod upon at every instance. He’s chided regularly by his sleazy boss and at the movie’s start, forced to embarrass himself in front of his co-workers, until one steps in to even the score. Kyle Gallner in the role of Benson is a quiet loner of sorts who also works at the same burger joint, and his eruption of brutality will widen your eyes with just a few shotgun blasts. After Randolph is “escorted to safety” by the obviously unbalanced Benson, the two begin a road trip that takes them on more than just a series of stop-offs – this car ride serves as a therapy session almost, with Benson prying away at the many meek-ridden levels of Randolph’s psyche.
With differing moments of unsettling violence, it’s becoming more clear that Randolph is starting to shed his timidity – he’s nowhere near the level of unabashed audacity that resides in Benson’s mental-framework, but he’s coming out of a confining shell slowly. Past remorseful memories are tripped, such as lost relationships with a former girlfriend, the accidental injury caused to his elementary-school teacher (see first line of the review), and they all play a large role in defining who Randolph is and why he’s been molded in this passive-fashion. What works in this film is the level of volatility in Gallner’s character – while he clearly doesn’t have both oars in the water, he still manages to maintain a sense of security towards his captive counterpart.
Looking at THE PASSENGER as a whole, the film won’t knock you for a loop with mile-a-minute thrills, but chisel into your own subconscious, and hook up the drainage taps to your sympathetic & empathetic reservoirs. Both Gallner & Berchtold are fantastic in their portrayals of tortured hearts, and with a strong supporting performance from Liza Weil as Randolph’s former teacher, you really can’t ask for more when it comes to believability. All in all, this presentation is something that can certainly draw its viewers in and keep them riveted, even with a languid pace being set. THE PASSENGER will be released in both On Demand & Digital formats on August 4th, so hop in and enjoy the ride…but please, don’t disturb the driver.
Good post, I like the sound of this, yet another horror movie to add to the watchlist