Plot: What’s it about?
There’s a natural tendency to fear the unknown. I’d say it’s one of the more basic elements of human nature. As a kid, I was horrified about getting seperated from my parents at the mall or the grocery store and so forth. But, as we all know, it happens. But that inherent fear is something that can make fodder for a great/scary film. It’s a shame that was wasted here as Passenger seems to take a more humorous approach to fear. That’s not a wise decision when you’re trying to scare people. director André Øvredal (The Last Voyage of the Demeter) can make good movies, but this one just left me scratching my head. Let’s dive in.
We meet Tyler (Jacob Scipio) and Maddie (Lou Llobell) as the two have decided to jettison their life in New York City and travel cross-country in a van (because…why not?). The duo stumble upon the ruins of a fatal car wreck and Maggie begins seeing images of an old man. He’s a demon known as the “passenger” (get it?) who’s sole purpose is to torment people just like them. This is according t Diana (Melissa Leo) who they meet at “Burning Van” (again…get it?). The longer these two drive, the more the Passenger attacks and torments them. What are Tyler and Maddie to do?
Horror films work best with a “less is more” approach. This is what makes films like Jaws or It Follows so scary – they’re not over-the-top/in-your-face about the subject matter, rather the horror is more basic and that’s what makes them work. It’s hard to become emotionally invested in a film where the “demon” can make people see things that aren’t there. What’s scary about that? I found that I was trying to piece together why the things were happening and what the overall point was as opposed to just being, you know…scared. It’s not a total waste, but there are plenty of other options out there if you want to be frightened – this just isn’t one of them.
Video: How’s it look?
Putting aside the film’s narrative, I was duly impressed with this AVC HD 2.39:1 encode. The film fills the screen with as much as can be squeezed into a 16:9 frame showcasing solid blacks, a nice color palette and a lot of darkness. Thankfully Paramount’s transfer handles this with the greatest of ease and it’s a testament to this being a new-to-the-format disc. I don’t know what the inspiration for a demon is, but this one really didn’t do it for me.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack does have a few moments to shine. Again, I don’t know what sounds a demon would make, but this one seemed to properly utilize the channels in my system. Yay. Vocals are sharp and clear, surrounds are used effectively as well. The front stage handles the lion’s share of the action. It’s a good-sounding mix.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Here’s hoping you like the movie as this one is bare bones.
The Bottom Line
The right elements are at play here, but the focus wasn’t. If you’re going to do a horror/comedy, do it. But if you’re going for horror and end up with your audience laughing (or scratching their heads) then you’ve missed the mark. The lack of supplements won’t really be a determining factor either. This one is for die-hard fans (pardon the pun).
