Director: Luke Sparke
Starring: Barry Pepper, Jamie Costa, Sam Neill, Rachel Griffiths, Liam McIntyre and Zach Garred
Distributor: Rialto Distribution
Runtime: 96 mins. Reviewed in Oct 2023
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

| |

Rating notes: Strong violence and coarse language

Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive an unsuspecting crew member to an ambush execution. There is a long drive ahead.

Here is a gangster thriller that looks and sounds American. However, it is an Australian production, filmed here. And it is the work of writer-director Sparke (Red Billabong, Occupation, Occupation: Rainfall). It features two American central figures played by Pepper and Costa – but the archvillain is played by Griffiths, while Neill has an opportunity to show something of his nasty side.

There are two intercut narratives. First, there is a violent robbery of Neill’s store by two masked men. In the meantime, Driver (Pepper) is waiting in the getaway car. Second, there is a transition where Driver goes to pick up an unsuspecting new crew member known as Passenger (Costa), who has been summoned to meet the boss.

While there is action in the film – and a car chase late in the development, much of the film is set in the car, with conversation between the Driver and Passenger. It is a long night with phone calls to the cab driver warning him not to trust his passenger, and demands being made on him to deliver the young man. Which means then this is also a character-driven drama. There are gradual revelations about each of the two in the car, discussion about life, rights and wrongs, and the driver having his conscience tested.

And, into the descriptions, some dramatic incidents, an encounter with the police which turns out to have something of a happy ending and a handwritten phone number which will play its part the end of the film. Then there is a pursuit by two motorcyclists and a violent confrontation.

Altogether, there is an edgy tone about the film, becoming more edgy when we realise who the passenger is and why he is being summoned.

In many ways, a standard crime thriller, but interesting to see the Australian villains and to listen to character-driven conversation.