Trapped in Terror: a Drive Like No Other

Read Time:3 Minute, 54 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Drive Back
–

Genre: Action, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 34m
Director(s): Cody Ashford
Writer(s): Jon Sarro
Cast: Zack Gold, Whit Kunschik, Tammy Kaitz, Robert Stephenson, Madonna Young Magee, Jim Tuck, Crystal Foster
Where To Watch: coming to select theaters and digital November 8, 2024

RAVING REVIEW: In DRIVE BACK, the twists and turns of a young couple's post-engagement drive take a sinister detour into psychological horror. Directed by Cody Ashford, the film introduces Reid (Zack Gold) and Olivia (Whit Kunschik,) whose route from a celebration turns into a gripping nightmare of eerie phenomena and haunting revelations. Cinematographer Lucas Pitassi captures the atmospheric journey. At the same time, the screenplay by Jon Sarro delves deep into the abyss of the couple's tortured pasts, blending horror with intense psychological drama.

As the film develops, it takes us on a disorienting drive that explores emotional webs and past traumas. Compellingly portrayed by Gold, Reid is on the verge of fatherhood, wrestling with career woes and a troubled history with his father. These flashbacks from his childhood create a psychological framework that colors his reactions throughout the film, adding to his relationship with Olivia, depicted with a delicate balance of strength and vulnerability by Kunschik. Her performance reveals the depth of her concealed secrets, unraveling as the forest's claustrophobic grip tightens around them.

The couple's supposed shortcut home soon transforms into a labyrinth of terror. As they venture deeper into the woods, their surroundings mirror their spiraling descent into old fears and unresolved conflicts. The forest, captured with intensity, becomes a character to some extent—enveloping the screen and the couple in its ominous embrace. A sinister recommendation from a mysterious older woman at a deserted gas station propels them into a seemingly infinite loop, distorting their perception of time and plunging them into a psychological ordeal that tests their sanity and survival.

The narrative's tension escalates as they encounter a series of macabre visions and a disturbing hitchhiker, escalating their paranoia. Ashford eschews conventional jump scares for a growing dread that permeates the couple's interactions, effectively using the isolated setting as a metaphor for the widening gap in their relationship. The intermittent loss of phone signal adds to the isolation and symbolically represents their faltering communication, making each eerie echo and chilling whisper a test of their bond.

DRIVE BACK goes beyond typical horror motifs, weaving a tale of psychological complexity and emotional turbulence. Reid's haunting memories and current fears blend into a journey that challenges both characters, giving them substantial depth and agency. This nuanced storytelling resonates with viewers, offering a refreshing take on the psychological impacts of horror.

Despite its use of some well-worn paths—like the clichéd warnings from residents and predictable device failures—the film uses these elements to underscore its central themes of memory and fear. As the climax unfolds, the psychological stakes are as daunting as the physical perils, compelling Reid and Olivia to confront the darkest corners of their psyches.

DRIVE BACK culminates in a finale that leaves viewers with a poignant mix of resolution and lingering questions, reflecting the complex story of the couple's relationship and the enduring scars of their journey. Ashford and Sarro have crafted a thought-provoking and terrifying film, making it a welcome addition to the genre. It offers a unique blend of genuine scares and deep narrative resonance, appealing to fans of psychological thrillers and newcomers to the genre.

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[photo courtesy of DARK SKY FILMS]

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