MOVIE NEWS – André Øvredal’s new horror film is, according to RogerEbert.com, a tense, stylish B-movie that delivers far more than one might initially expect.

André Øvredal, the director of The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Trollhunter, has returned to horror, and Passenger has turned out to be a notably effective, tense, and stylish B-movie according to the famously demanding film site RogerEbert.com, far exceeding expectations.

The film follows the tradition of classic road thrillers such as Duel and The Hitcher, but with a much stronger horror edge. At the center of the story is a young couple, Tyler (Jacob Scipio) and Maddie (Lou Llobell), who leave New York behind and hit the American roads in a converted camper van. They enjoy their freedom, but the idyll quickly collapses when they witness a brutal car accident. They cannot save the driver, and they accidentally “pick up” a passenger: an evil, demonic entity (Joseph Lopez) from which there is no escape.

Øvredal handles the tension with confidence, and the jump scares work precisely because he does not overuse them. Federico Verardi’s cinematography captures the threatening loneliness of nighttime highways with expert control, the performances feel grounded, and the film knows exactly how to turn an oppressive atmosphere into a full-blown nightmare.

Passenger is already playing in Hungarian cinemas.

Source: UIP Dunafilm