Hollywood
A highway to horror: Passenger leaves critics thrilled and terrified
André Øvredal’s road-horror chiller earns rave reviews for its suspense, style and smart scares before its India debut on 29th May.
MUMBAI: Buckle up, Passenger is not taking the scenic route. Paramount Pictures’ latest horror thriller has arrived with critics riding shotgun, and the verdict is clear: this is one nightmare journey worth the fare.
Directed by André Øvredal, the filmmaker behind some of modern horror’s moodiest chillers, Passenger turns an ordinary road trip into a white-knuckle descent into terror. The film, which opens in Indian cinemas this Friday, 29th May, is already gathering strong praise from international critics for blending psychological tension, supernatural horror and modern tech paranoia into a slick, tightly wound thriller.
Film critic, Elena Lazic called the film a “stylish, satisfying thrill-ride”, applauding Øvredal’s confident grip on atmosphere and pacing. Frank Scheck praised the film’s ability to bottle the exhausting dread of endless highway travel, noting that while the film runs just 94 minutes, it captures the strain of a long road trip “all too well”.
Critics have also highlighted the film’s clever use of present-day driving technology as part of its scare machinery. Allison Foreman singled out that angle as one of the film’s freshest ideas, while Matt Gatsby declared Passenger “a trip to remember” in what has already been a strong year for original horror cinema.
Peter Sobczynski added that the film delivers far more than its understated release rollout might suggest, describing it as “solid genre craftwork” that punches above expectations.
The story follows a young couple whose van-life escape spirals into terror after they witness a gruesome highway crash. The real horror begins when they realise something from the accident has followed them, a demonic entity known only as the Passenger. What starts as an open-road adventure soon becomes a relentless fight for survival.
Starring Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Devielle Johnson, Bonni Dichone and Jessica Cruz, Passenger appears to be steering straight into the sweet spot for horror fans craving atmosphere-heavy scares over cheap jolts.
For audiences ready to swap comfort viewing for creeping dread, Passenger may just be the horror ride of the season.
