Driven (2019) Review
Emerson Graham’s (Casey Dillard) nights as a cab driver are filled with annoyances and inconveniences, but until tonight, never attacks and disappearances. After picking up a mysterious passenger (Richard Speight Jr.) her evening goes from working a job to performing a quest as they must race against the clock to stop demons from invading the world.
It’s not often that you get to see a horror-comedy as bright, breezy and infectious as this. In fact the last time I recall seeing a horror-comedy that had characters you enjoy spending time with, which offered a concept that’s both simple and engaging AND delivered the goods in abundance was back in the Eighties. This is a remarkably confident low-budget flick that will score highly not just with genre fans but film fans right across the board.
DRIVEN’s playful tone, witty dialogue (courtesy of the film’s star Casey Dillard) and interesting premise are executed well, however it does occasional veer too long off track by concentrating on the lead’s personal situation. I’m sure had the film’s budget afforded it then there would have been less of this and more demon-related shenanigans. A greater balance between the character’s personal stories and demon-fighting would have easily raised this rating’s score to a full ten-star rated review.
For the most part director Glenn Payne’s DRIVEN is an extraordinarily confident picture, with strong direction, crisp cinematography and one of the most playful musical scores I have heard in a long time that encapsulates the film’s vibe perfectly. However DRIVEN’s strongest card is that of the film’s central pairing. They are so well defined and impeccably acted that you’ll find it an absolute breeze in terms of the journey you take with them.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
