“This is going to be a long ride.”
Backed by the steady sound of Christmas carols and holiday cheer, Brad Baruh and Meghan Leon’s Night Drive puts a unique spin on the ultimate nightmare of any ride-share driver.
On an otherwise ordinary evening in Los Angeles, Russell (AJ Bowen) is busy hitting the streets, navigating the hectic traffic as he works hard to get his passengers to where they need to go. But when Charlotte opens the car door, his life is turned upside down as he finds himself driving through a series of unfortunate instances that are equally outrageous and comical.
Though the film centers on what is likely every ride-share driver’s worst fear, it is hard to ignore the lighthearted, almost whimsical approach that Baruh and Leon cultivate here. Toying with one’s inner thoughts, they successfully navigate the “fish out of water” scenario, building on the chemistry of their two leads as they find themselves primarily confined to the inside of a car with only so many directions to turn.
But then, unexpectedly, they do a complete 180 and prove that though confined by space, they are never confined creatively.
Contextually, Night Drive starts as one might expect: a driver does a string of usual rides, takes part in mundane conversations, and smiles with each successful drop-off. But Charlotte is not your typical rider, starting with a run of texts that sends her on a quick detour that puts Russell waiting outside while she ventures into a home. Minutes later, she comes jetting out with a suitcase, demanding he floor it as a man runs out after her.
From this point forward, things only get weirder. Amid an increasingly dangerous backdrop, a cool, calm, and collected Charlotte directs her driver through a maze of obstacles, pitting him at times against himself as they work together to bury s body, burn the evidence, and outwit a cop.
When the ultimate twist becomes known, and you suddenly realize that you aren’t watching the film you initially thought you were, you can’t help but laugh. Sure, things are a bit random, and the ride-sharing aspect of the story is not nearly as crucial as assumed, but alas, a film full of misdirections successfully pulls a solid surprise out of its bag of tricks.
Don’t get me wrong, Night Drive is neither revolutionary nor exceptionally well made. The film wears its indie budget with pride, refusing to succumb to over-the-top CGI, instead creatively attacking the story through imaginative camera work. Together, they generate a conclusion that produces more questions than it does answers - but in a film like this, you’re too caught up in the shock and awe to care.
