Night Drive is an ambitious addition to the expanding rideshare horror sub genre. Russell (AJ Bowen) is a driver whose life seems to have be going in the wrong direction. When he picks up a passenger named Charlotte (Sophie Dalah), he is offered a business opportunity that may change everything. But will he make it through the night?
The story is filled with twists and turns. What initially starts off as another indie rideshare film becomes something much more sinister. It is risky for a movie to change tones, but it works in Night Drive. The chemistry between Dalah and Bowen is an important part of the story. They meet early on and how well they interact will determine a person’s enjoyment of the film. The two have an effortless connection that makes even the more outlandish parts of the story work.
There should be an obvious romantic tension between the two. The film makes the interesting and wise decision to take the romantic-comedy angle out of Night Drive. This ensures the focus of the audience is on the plot and its mysteries. Night Drive is the type of movie that can become overly dependent on twists. A mystery is introduced in the first ten minutes, for example. There is the fear the whole story will be a series of unresolved plot threads. This is never the case as the relationship between Russell and Charlotte is just as important as any revelation.
The final act results in a satisfying payoff. The film brings everything together nicely in a very surprising twist. There are some moments and dialogue along the way that do not work, but everything does tie into the greater plot. The audience is left out of the fun of figuring out what is happening, but this does not take away from the enjoyment.
Night Drive pulls into theaters and VOD August 6
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