The Passenger
Release poster
Directed byCarter Smith
Written byJack Stanley
Produced by
  • Paige Pemberton
  • Paul Uddo
Starring
CinematographyLyn Moncrief
Edited byEric Nagy
Music byChristopher Bear
Production
company
Distributed byMGM+
Release date
  • August 4, 2023 (2023-08-04)
Running time
93 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Passenger is a 2023 American horror film directed by Carter Smith and written by Jack Stanley. The film stars Kyle Gallner and Johnny Berchtold. Jason Blum serves as an executive producer through his Blumhouse Television banner.[2][3] The film was released digitally by MGM+ on August 4, 2023, to positive reviews, with some praising the atmosphere, acting, and themes, but others criticized the ending.

Plot

Randolph "Randy" Bradley is a fast food worker in rural Louisiana who is slated to be promoted to manager yet is still bullied by other employees. After Benson, his co-worker, sees Randy being bullied by another employee, he suddenly snaps and shoots all the workers in the building save for Randy. Randy reluctantly helps Benson clean the bloody scene and they place the bodies in the freezer.

The duo drive to a nearby diner, where Randy asks why Benson committed the shooting spree. Benson's response is to insult their waitress, saying that she hasn’t done anything remarkable in her life. Benson takes Randy to Benson's mother's house to give her some food and cigarettes. When Randy goes to get a phone for his mom, Benson pins him against the wall. They go back to Benson's car, where Benson says that he has to hurt Randy to make him learn and sets up a rule that he does only what is necessary for Randy.

They head to a mall to talk to Randy’s ex-girlfriend, Lisa. She explains that the reason for their breakup was because of Randy's apathy and they reconcile. Randy explains to Benson that he had been held back in second grade due to an incident with his teacher, Mrs. Beard, in which he flung a pencil into her eye after being angry, and it ruined their lives; Mrs. Beard was abused by the people in her life, and Randy decided to isolate all of his feelings after the incident for fear of what his emotions can do to others.

Benson and Randy then go to the school where Mrs. Beard worked, to get her home address, whilst Benson plans to kill her. Outside, Benson spots the vice principal. Benson viciously beats him, but Randy stops the attack because of the rule Benson set for Randy.

At Mrs. Beard's house, Randy learns that she does not blame him for the accident. Mrs. Beard answers the phone, and she is told about the vice principal's earlier beating. Benson pulls a gun on Mrs. Beard, but Randy tells that Benson not kill her, at which point Benson takes Mrs. Beard hostage and plans on driving out the city.

The three return to the diner from earlier and while in the restroom, Randy calls the police. They are confronted by the waitress from earlier. Still angered by Benson’s insult, she berates him until he shoots her in the leg. Randy tries to stop Benson, and they hear the sound of police sirens. Angered and terrified, Benson shoots Randy in the shoulder but quickly feels remorse. Saddened by Randy's betrayal, Benson walks outside and commits suicide by cop. Sometime later, Randy plays with Mrs. Beard's daughter as she arrives home and he is finally happy, showing he has control over his own life.

Cast

  • Johnny Berchtold as Randolph Bradley
  • Kyle Gallner as Benson
  • Liza Weil as Miss Beard
  • Billy Slaughter as Hardy
  • Matthew Laureano as Chris
  • Jordan Sherley as Jess
  • Kanesha Washington as Marsha
  • Lupe Leon as Lisa
  • Merah Benoit as Tessa

Production

In March 2022, The Passenger was announced as part of Blumhouse Television and Epix's TV movie deal, with Carter Smith directing with Jack Stanley writing the screenplay, with Kyle Gallner, Johnny Berchtold and Liza Weil starring in the film.[4] Principal photography on the film began in April 2022 in New Orleans.[5]

Release

The Passenger was released digitally by MGM+ and Paramount Home Entertainment on August 4, 2023 and started streaming on MGM+ on October 6, 2023.[6]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 26 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10.[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 62 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "The Passenger (18)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (March 15, 2022). "Blumhouse & Epix Announce New Thriller 'The Passenger' Starring Kyle Gallner and Johnny Berchtold".
  3. ↑ Squires, John (March 15, 2022). "Kyle Gallner Will Star in 'The Ruins' Director Carter Smith's 'The Passenger'".
  4. ↑ Hamman, Cody (March 15, 2022). "The Passenger: Kyle Gallner goes on a killing spree for Blumhouse and Epix".
  5. ↑ Berchtold, Johnny (April 18, 2022). "Aaaaand that's a wrap on The Passenger let's drrriiiivvveee". Instagram. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ Hamman, Cody (June 21, 2023). "The Passenger: Kyle Gallner stars in Blumhouse thriller with August release date". JoBlo. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ "The Passenger". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Passenger". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
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