This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the work being covered here wouldn’t exist.
The Passenger is a twisted road trip starring Kyle Gallner (Smile) and Johnny Berchtold (Snow Falls). Randy (Berchtold) has made it a point to fade into the background. When his coworker Benson (Gallner) goes on a violent rampage, Randy is forced to face his fears – literally.
After a bloody cold open, things get off to a shockingly vicious start. It can be a hard watch as it is tinged in real life horrors. This also sets a tone that will make audiences worry about what is going to happen next. Though there is more violence to come, The Passenger pulls things back and never reaches the levels of carnage found early on.
This allows more time to get to know the two main characters. The Passenger seamlessly morphs into a movie about people learning about themselves and each other. It should be a jarring change, but it works things to the dedication Gallner puts into the role. Benson is part charismatic evil guru, part DIY punk kid who is too cool for school. It is over the top and potentially grating, but Gallner brings a gripping air of seriousness. As The Passenger progresses, Benson becomes scarier and more unhinged. Though he claims to want to help Randy as he gives him various life “lessons”, the unpredictability that surrounds him is frightening.
The Passenger moves at a nice clip until an incident from Randy’s childhood is revealed. It is a well built moment that will even leave some concerned about what may have happened. The truth is silly, but is played as a deep moment, complete with emotional music. The moment highlights how shallow of character Randy is, which is kind of the point. He has intentionally lived his life under the radar and there is a reason for it, but the scene does not carry the type of weight it should. Benson rightfully laughs at the story.
It is also the point where The Passenger almost collapses under its own weight. Another character is introduced to push Randy and hints of Benson’s past are included in a poor attempt to humanize him. Everything leads to Randy having to make a major decision – for possibly the first time in his adult life. It is a tension filled moment with some great camerawork that pulls viewers back in.
Emotion is what drives the film forward. There is a surprising lack of urgency is some scenes, but everything is geared towards the bigger narrative. As bloody as The Passenger can get, it is about two people who are on a journey for growth – whether they want it or not.
The Passenger is available on digital and On Demand August 4
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