Driven Review - One Hell of a Ride

Summary and Review of Driven

Emerson Graham: Casey Dillard Roger: Richard Speight Jr Director: Glenn Payne Release: 2020

Emerson Graham (Casey Dillard) is an aspiring stand-up comic who makes ends meet as an Uber-style cab driver. The upbeat opening scenes show a montage of Emerson’s interactions with various customers during the evening as she perfects her comedy routine in between pick-ups. 

Things take a turn for the unexpected when she picks up the mysterious, and rather terse, Roger who wants to stop at multiple addresses for reasons unknown. The sparks fly from the word go as Emerson tries to engage in casual conversation but Roger (Richard Speight Jr.) is having none of it. The chemistry between the two is immediately apparent in their humorous banter, which establishes the tone for the rest of the film. 

After Emerson witnesses an alarming encounter between Roger and a stranger, he reveals that he is on a quest to rid the world of evil entities (which must be completed that very evening) and Emerson becomes embroiled in his efforts. A well-paced and tightly scripted storyline provides a backstory which, although implausible, provides just enough logic for both Roger's quest and Emerson’s involvement to be…well, plausible. The two lurch from one catastrophe to the next with hilarious results and I found myself immersed in their micro world for the duration. 

This is billed as a horror comedy and is much more about the comedy than the horror with the film focused on the relationship between the two unlikely companions. It had me laughing out loud in many places and there are a couple of running gags with one, in particular, being a standout. You won’t forget it once you’ve heard it.

The majority of the affair is shot inside the car. Even most of the external scenes are filmed from within. Given that the story is car-bound, you would think there wasn’t much room for cinematography but it’s managed with some great incidental shots from within and without the vehicle which punctuate the confines of the in-car setting. 

The action is intermittent and fairly low-key and mainly serves to drive along the relationship between the two protagonists but there’s enough for the odd pang of anxiety and a jump scare here and there. So if you’re looking for an adrenaline-fuelled car chase, this may not be for you. But if a large dose of horror-laced comedy is up your alley, then this should appeal.

It’s a remarkable achievement to create something on this level with so few resources. But the key is in the writing. Casey Dillard is the genius here and she develops the characters and the storyline in the most engaging way. It does, at times, linger a little too long on the personal stories of the characters which slows the pace but the performances from the leads are top notch and they are well served by sharp dialogue and creative direction. External characters are introduced sparingly and always serve to move the narrative along, rather than acting as a distraction. Everything hangs together nicely and it all makes for an entertaining package.

The meter is running and time is running out so jump in and enjoy the ride.