Cook review: Ride along for a topnotch thriller with The Passenger

One of the most enjoyable movies of 2023 may be one you never heard of.

“The Passenger” is a must-see for grownups who like thrillers and horror movies, and those who enjoy dark character studies. It’s a Blumhouse film, by the way, and it centers on two young men who are coworkers at a fast-food restaurant.

‘The Passenger’ (IMDb)

Randy (Johnny Berchtold, “Tiny Beautiful Things”) is a quiet, nervous type. He lacks confidence in nearly every facet of his life, and his bully colleague knows it, making sport of him every chance he gets. The bully forces Randy to eat a day-old cheeseburger in a scene that’s chilling because we can imagine what the bully might do next.

Benson (Kyle Gallner,”Smile”)  is another coworker who ends up on the run and forces Randy to come along. There ensues a sort of road trip, in which Randy and Benson get to know each other better, and which builds up dread with every mile. Benson knows Randy will not be able to slow him down or stop him, regardless of what’s in store for those they meet along the way. 

It wouldn’t be fair to tell you too much more except to say this movie is incredibly violent, it’s a lot smarter than the trailer makes it out to be, and the ensemble is full of capable performers who aren’t household words.

But they should be. This cast delivers. Even the secondary and tertiary characters are well-developed as people with whom we can identify.

The movie never overstays its welcome with its tight, fast-paced running time. It made me think of one of my other favorite psychological thrillers, “The Gift.”

All the way through the film, I kept wondering “Who wrote this?” (Jack Stanley) and “Who directed this?” (Carter Smith.) The dialogue is clever, complete with pop-culture references and awkward conversations that feel real.

Remember those two names. I want to see more from them. And I bet you will, too.

3 ½ stars

Running time: One hour and 34 minutes.

Unrated, but similar to an “R” for foul language and graphic violence.

Streaming on multiple platforms.

Watch the trailer here.

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