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‘Blinders’ review: Seemingly standard thriller with strong story beats

Ride (share) or die.

Aside from the Martin Scorsese movie, were thrillers about taxi drivers a big part of American cinema? There certainly have been plenty of movies about ride-share drivers in recent years. While there have been some fun entries, there has yet to be that one that stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

Blinders is another thriller involving a ride-share driver. Andy (Vincent Van Horn) moves to Los Angeles after he and his girlfriend break up. Things seem to be looking up for him with the change of location. After Andy meets a new “friend” named Roger (Michael Lee Joplin), things take a strange turn.

There are a few different movies in the DNA of director Tyler Savage’s film. Most obviously, it is reminiscent of The Cable Guy. Roger is more than just another ride-share driver. He is Andy’s closest friend. Unfortunately, his friendship is more akin to an obsession. It is clear what direction Blinders is going in.

Blinders follows all the expected tropes. Roger follows Andy then calls him to see what he is doing, texts way too often, and sets up cameras in Andy’s house. There is some nice tension built, but nothing is too out of the ordinary. The movie is interesting enough, but it also seems like it is going to be a case of “been there, done that”.

Quite a number of things prevent the movie from being just another stalker story. Van Horn’s acting is tremendous and he checks off all the boxes to be a hero. He is charming and smart, but there is also a sense that he is fighting to remain composed. The best heroes are the ones who have to work at keeping calm and Van Horn is great at it.

Joplin also excels in his role. The key (the same can be said of Andy) is Roger has a familiar quality to him. Obviously, Blinders turns things up, but everyone will know someone who is just like Roger. It is very easy to get immersed in the film’s story.

Blinders is a very enjoyable if predictable movie for the majority of its runtime. This is one of those stories that is intriguing by nature. It is just a matter of whether it can do anything different. The finale is what will make the movie stand out for many. It is a nice little twist that sets it apart from similar films. The question becomes, is it too little, too late?

Where have all the gothic horror movies gone?

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