The Passenger (2023)
a review by Evan Landon
It is extremely easy to get let down by movies, especially these days.
Most of everyone has been beleaguered with remakes, reshoots that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, even poorly written films because the writers that were never meant to be included had to be from studio interference that gives the film a stink of apathy and disdain that clearly conveys not only the actors, but the entire studio themselves while the ones counting the money care very little over a budget or art.
Me too. I like to find solace in the little known movies that are able to fly under the radar enough to where we can all relax and let good filmmakers do what they do best: create art. You do not need a huge, million dollar endeavor to do that. I guess the closest thing to something like that could be the new Dune movies, but I am in the middle of my thesis-esque statement on that, which I am sure will be either overlooked in its entirety or considered impressive by fans of both the films and the lore when it comes out. I am getting a bit off track here, so let's examine The Passenger for now.
It is easy to shit on “bad movies” and I know this because I made an entire podcast around it. I have even written about them because low-hanging fruit is easy. This is not that kind of movie.
I will spell out the premise for you, without spoiling anything: a young man named Bradley lives in a small town where he works at a fast food place that hardly has any business. He is asked by his manager if he wants to be an assistant manager because of his work ethic and quiet demeanor. Upon hearing this, he stands up to the bully at work who in turn makes him eat a hamburger that had been sitting there overnight. The quiet co-worker he works with then goes to the trunk of his car, grabs a shotgun, and executes everyone except for Bradley. What ensues is the two embarking on a psychological, coming-of-age trip with all of the hallmarks of a thriller that only Blumhouse can provide.
In a world of movies that refuse to miss the mark, this one them in almost every single way; I said, “almost.” There are a few glaring plot hole that stand out, but the exposition is quick to expound on. The world the characters inhabit is very much like our own and that truly brings it into focus.
What really sets this whole movie off is Kyle Gallner, who in my mind, has truly captured the taste of a great indie movie actor. He is constantly hitting it out of the park! The pacing by Carter Smith (The Ruins) is absolutely superb and every slight nuance is caught in measure, so that goes very far for him as a passionate director with a nose for what works in a movie.
I bit my thumbnail down to the bone with the experience, so this is definitely an overlooked, taught thriller if I have ever seen one. Definitely check it out!
3.5 out of 5