Black Cab - New Release Review
Director: Bruce Goodison
Starring: Nick Frost, Luke Norris, Synnøve Karlsen, George Bukhari, Tess Parr, Tilly Woodward
Written by: Virginia Gilbert
Produced by: Jan Roldanus
Cinematography by: Adam Etherington
Original Score by: Gazelle Twin
Synopsis:
A couple who find their jovial cab driver diverts them to a remote, haunted road, revealing disturbing motives and his true intentions.
Thoughts:
"Are you having a good night?" One of the many questions we've asked a taxi driver after a night out, in an attempt to break an awkward silence or to make polite conversation with them. What might seem like a simple act of politeness to us might be the last thing on earth the driver wants to hear as they drive down the same old road having heard the same thing time and time again. In trying to stay on their good side they might have made an enemy of you in their head. All you can hope for is that they get you from A to B, without incident.
An extreme case of this happens in 'Black Cab'. We are first introduced to the couple Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) and Patrick (Luke Norris) who are in a strained relationship. Anne is hiding a pregnancy from her over controlling partner Patrick and things come to a head when a dinner date at a restaurant turns sour. In the aftermath they are picked up by a random black taxi driven by lan (Nick Frost) only he doesn't intend on taking them home as he has more sinister plans in store for them.
In the simplest of terms, 'Black Cab' is a kidnap thriller with a ghost story under its hood. Director Bruce Goodison does a good job navigating the audience through these genres as there is a tense feeling over what lan is going to do to the couple whilst having a ghostly presence (complete with the occasional jumpscare) surround the film. This is helped in a major way through the way in which the cinematography and score compliment each other. In terms of looks there is a soft and ghostly feel to the film visually. There is a moody use of the streetlights early in the film adding to its menacing atmosphere that is continued with the interior lighting of the dashboard of the taxi later on. Alongside this the electronic score from Gazelle Twin works brilliantly at emphasising the omnipresent spectre that hangs over the entire film racking up the tension at the same time.
For a film that predominantly takes place in a black taxi Goodison does a good job at utilising this single location by heightening the feeling of claustrophobia and helplessness for the kidnapped passengers as everything is tightly shot. This approach serves to draw attention to how the isolation from the job causes lan's already damaged mental state to further deteriorate as the camera focuses on his eyes or the distorted shots of his side profile in the front seat. Having said that, the film does spin its wheels in the second act as it becomes repetitive, draining some of its intrigue.
In terms of the actors who inhabit the taxi for most of the film, Nick Frost stands out most. Known primarily for his comedic roles, the role allows Frost to branch out to something darker than usual as the disturbed cabby. He appears to be channelling Annie Wilkes with a manner that switches from jovial and caring to violent and angry at the drop of a hat. Frost conveys this unpredictability brilliantly leaving you unsure of what he is going to do next. He doesn't entirely abandon his background in comedy as lan is riddled with dark humour that Frost really sinks his teeth into as he explores lan's past.
Synnøve Karlsen also makes an impact as the emotionally wrought passenger Anne who isn't just trapped in the taxi but in a controlling relationship too with a pregnancy that has added so much uncertainty to her life. Karlsen really gets across Anne's desperation in a physically demanding role but the gradual shift to survival is what locks you into her performance making you root for her. Opposite her Luke Norris plays a great bastard in the form of Patrick who is abrasive and obnoxious from the get go and Norris oozes of that throughout his performance. It may be a slightly underwritten role (which is understandable since the film is essentially a two-hander between Frost and Karlsen) but he makes the most of it.
On paper 'Black Cab' is an interesting vehicle for exploring internal deterioration but it is also one that struggles to justify its feature length. The inclusion of the supernatural is a welcome addition but it isn't enough to fully sustain the film. Thankfully the sinister leading performance from Nick Frost and the ample support of Synnøve Karlsen and Luke Norris are more than enough to make the film a worthwhile watch.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Joseph McElroy
'Black Cab' is available to stream on Shudder on November 8th
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