PASSENGER

Passenger (2026)

Directed by: André Øvredal

Whenever the camera turns 360 degrees, it perfectly captures the perspective of the main character — looking around and searching for any source of life.

The empty surroundings keep the fear intact. You’re not sure if there’s really something out there. You can’t blink. You don’t want to miss anything. Eyes on the road. Eyes on the screen. Next thing you know, the jumpscare is already right in front of you.

Most of the scares are effective. From dash cams to the lights and tires, the movie utilizes car elements and makes them more frightening. Even the projector is creatively incorporated into the horror.

The first sequence alone is very promising. But instead of progressing beautifully, the film deescalates and gradually diminishes its impact.

The story is a letdown because the lore is barely explored. The characters aren’t that interesting either. The resolution is poorly thought out and far too easy.

The passenger’s face, once genuinely terrifying, eventually turns into that of an ordinary man who oddly resembles Liam Neeson.

What initially feels like an original horror film slowly devolves into something that plays like a 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 episode before turning into a generic action movie.

Even if there’s only one director, it feels like there’s two of them. The one handling the jumpscares does a great job, while the other keeps dragging everything else down.

The movie starts off strong, pulling you into a thrilling ride. But eventually, it throws you out of the car, leaving you watching from the sidelines instead.

From the experience of being a passenger,

you eventually become a bystander.

𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑

Cast: Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Joseph Lopez

Screenplay by: Zachary Donohue and T.W. Burgess

Presented by: 18Hz Productions, Coin Operated

Release Date: May 27, 2026 in Philippine cinemas nationwide

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews