After showing off his skills in the world of comedy many times, Nick Frost is exploring a new side of acting with black taxi. Frost is best known for his work co-leading the Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy with Simon Pegg, while also finding success with everything since 2011 Attack the block to his and Pegg’s sci-fi comedy PaulAMC In the arid lands and Fighting with my family. In addition to straight comedy, Frost has also starred in more horror-oriented films, including Rulez Slaughterhouse and Truth seekersthe latter of which he co-created with Pegg.
black taxi focuses primarily on Synnøve Karlsen’s Anne, a young woman who is reluctantly about to resume her relationship with Luke Norris’ Patrick, a brazen and self-centered man. When a night out with friends slowly turns into frustration between them, they hail a taxi to go home, with charming driver Ian, played by Frost, quickly turning into a maniacal captor as he ties them up and tells them they’re on their way. heading towards a supposedly haunted road. With seemingly few options, Anne must think quickly if she wants to get herself and Patrick out of the situation.
Nick Frost is a surprisingly effective villain
His jovial nature betrays his threatening potential very well.
One of the best things black taxi has in its favor is Frost as the villainous taxi driver, who arrives around the 10-minute mark. Considering Frost’s aforementioned comedy background, the actor could have gone in a stranger direction with his character, especially since he contributed extra material written for the horror film. However, he finds a suitable balance between the lighter side of his character and the more menacing side that makes his performance all the more effective.
…it’s so easy to like Frost’s character from the beginning.
By the time we meet Ian, writer David Michael Emerson and director Bruce Goodison have already used one of their most effective tricks, distracting us with Patrick’s truly unpleasant nature, that we almost don’t expect any other villain until we see Patrick’s familiar face. Frost. . In the first few moments of the ride, Ian does everything from singing one of his favorite old songs on the radio to threatening to kick Patrick out or even sitting on him, and it’s so easy to like Frost’s character from the get-go.
When he starts to shift towards the villainous side of things, there are a few moments where Frost’s portrayal isn’t perfect. It’s not necessarily on the wrong side of evil, but it’s not necessarily on the right side of good either. Whether it was his back-and-forth approach when speaking to Anne, or his unwitting mindset leading to some surreal antics, there were a few moments where, despite his generally grounded portrayal, I occasionally found myself taken out of the situation.
Bruce Goodison’s direction is a surreal fever dream
When combined with Gazelle Twin’s music, the film is an atmospheric dream
black taxi has a perfect combination of Goodison’s surreal direction and Gazelle Twin’s ethereal soundtrack. Goodison and cinematographer Adam Etherington capture the claustrophobic nature of Anne and Patrick’s fateful trip with Ian very well, keeping the camera appropriately close to all three while also recognizing how to frame each character to match where they are in their lives. respective arcs – whether captive, captor, or something in between.
When the film gets to the more supernatural side of things, the duo also seem to have drawn inspiration from just the right mix of fantasy and surreal horror to deliver on that front. Between Anne’s dreamlike visions of the film’s various spirits and Ian’s haunting flashbacks and hallucinations, the film becomes a beautiful visual treat, even if the visuals are effectively chilling. All of this combined with Twin’s unique soundtrack creates a rich atmosphere that keeps us drawn in for most of the film’s 87-minute running time.
Black Cab ends up being disappointed by its pacing and plot
The lack of answers and a seemingly circular story almost undermine everything
One of the only disadvantages of black taxi It’s your story. Starting out as a general suspenseful tale about a taxi ride gone wrong before turning into a ghost story, the film certainly gets points for creativity in mixing the two, especially with the initial revelation of Ian having met Anne before. That said, opting for a more classic take on the ghost story with little to no answers makes it a little underwhelming.
I’m certainly not opposed to more ambiguous endings in the horror genre, especially ones that are meant to make us discuss and analyze the potential meanings behind them, but I couldn’t help but find the attempt to do so disheartening in black taxi. The ending seems to introduce a circular theme to the characters, indicating that they may be trapped in some sort of ghostly limbo, and yet, with little backstory for Anne and Patrick and almost plenty for Ian, it’s never clear whose limbo it is. . or why we should care.
black taxi begins streaming on Shudder on November 8th. The film is 87 minutes long and is not rated.
Black Cab: A thriller about a couple whose taxi ride takes an unexpected turn when their seemingly friendly driver diverts them onto a haunted, deserted road, ultimately revealing his sinister intentions. Released in 2024, the film delves into themes of trust and deceit in a chilling narrative.
- Nick Frost is absolutely chilling as the film’s villain.
- Bruce Goodison’s direction is appropriately surreal and claustrophobic.
- Gazelle Twin’s soundtrack is pleasantly ethereal.
- The overall atmosphere of the film is tense and compelling.
- The other lead actors can’t match Frost, although they aren’t terrible.
- The plot seems a little inconsistent in its pacing and the ambiguous ending doesn’t work.