A clever twist elevates this cynical but conventional crime thriller to another level – even if it comes late in the day
From Kiss Me Deadly to Repo Man to Pulp Fiction, the suitcase/car boot with mysterious contents has a distinct lineage in Los Angeles-set cinema. Perhaps a cipher for the city’s legendary transience and elusive promises, another one shows up in this snarky low-budget crime thriller in the hands of Charlotte (Sophie Dalah). She does a runner with it from the house of an ex-boyfriend, instructing her ride-share driver Russell (Aj Bowen) to sit outside and keep the motor running.
This is just the first stop. Russell, in a white Porsche that is all that remains of his payout from prematurely selling his share of a successful app, is needled by the pretty, insouciant Australian he picks up. Initially flirtatious, Charlotte enjoys pushing the middle-aged man’s buttons.
From Kiss Me Deadly to Repo Man to Pulp Fiction, the suitcase/car boot with mysterious contents has a distinct lineage in Los Angeles-set cinema. Perhaps a cipher for the city’s legendary transience and elusive promises, another one shows up in this snarky low-budget crime thriller in the hands of Charlotte (Sophie Dalah). She does a runner with it from the house of an ex-boyfriend, instructing her ride-share driver Russell (Aj Bowen) to sit outside and keep the motor running.
This is just the first stop. Russell, in a white Porsche that is all that remains of his payout from prematurely selling his share of a successful app, is needled by the pretty, insouciant Australian he picks up. Initially flirtatious, Charlotte enjoys pushing the middle-aged man’s buttons.
- 10/5/2021
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Russell (Aj Bowen) used to be in computing. Now he works as a ride share driver, something which he usually finds relaxing, getting to meet all sorts of different, interesting people over the course of a night. But one night he meets Charlotte (Sophie Dalah). She’s a whole different category of passenger. She’s either sulking in silence or talking non-stop, and before long it becomes apparent that she’s up to her neck in something seriously dodgy. Russell faces the most dramatic night of his life, and one that will change everything he thought he knew – if he can survive until the morning.
How much do you feel you know about Russell and Charlotte from that description? When it comes to introducing people, cinema is full of tricks. These also influence the way we imagine that characters feel about each other. We can see that Charlotte irritates Russell – that some.
How much do you feel you know about Russell and Charlotte from that description? When it comes to introducing people, cinema is full of tricks. These also influence the way we imagine that characters feel about each other. We can see that Charlotte irritates Russell – that some.
- 9/3/2021
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Stars: Aj Bowen, Sophie Dalah, Scott Poythress | Written by Meghan Leon | Directed by Meghan Leon, Brad Baruh
Russell is a rideshare driver with a Porsche. That’s about all he has left after his career and marriage fell apart. So when Charlotte (Sophie Dalah; Satanic) starts offering him large amounts of cash to cancel his plans and drive her around the city, and not log it in his app, he agrees. She comes running out of her first stop with a small box, and her ex in hot pursuit. But that’s just a taste of what’s to come. When they accidentally hit a pedestrian Charlotte convinces him not to call the police, she can help him get rid of the body. When the body steals the Porche and drives off into the night, that’s when it really gets weird.
Set against the backdrop of Christmas in Los Angeles,...
Russell is a rideshare driver with a Porsche. That’s about all he has left after his career and marriage fell apart. So when Charlotte (Sophie Dalah; Satanic) starts offering him large amounts of cash to cancel his plans and drive her around the city, and not log it in his app, he agrees. She comes running out of her first stop with a small box, and her ex in hot pursuit. But that’s just a taste of what’s to come. When they accidentally hit a pedestrian Charlotte convinces him not to call the police, she can help him get rid of the body. When the body steals the Porche and drives off into the night, that’s when it really gets weird.
Set against the backdrop of Christmas in Los Angeles,...
- 8/26/2021
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Directed by Bradford Baruh & Meghan Leon, Night Drive is now available in select theaters and on Digital/VOD and we have an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead viewers! The clip below features co-stars Aj Bowen and Sophie Dalah, and we were fortunate to have co-director Bradford Baruh provide us with some backstory on both the making of the film and the scene you're about to watch:
When Meghan Leon and I were developing Night Drive, we discussed the positives and negatives of shooting a car-based feature. The simplicity of set-ups and the small scale were great in terms of showcasing these two wonderful actors and keeping our budget where it needed to be, but it also creates a visual challenge. Small car interiors are always hard to shoot as it can threaten to make things repetitive and really restrict the ability to keep the visuals dynamic; after all it...
When Meghan Leon and I were developing Night Drive, we discussed the positives and negatives of shooting a car-based feature. The simplicity of set-ups and the small scale were great in terms of showcasing these two wonderful actors and keeping our budget where it needed to be, but it also creates a visual challenge. Small car interiors are always hard to shoot as it can threaten to make things repetitive and really restrict the ability to keep the visuals dynamic; after all it...
- 8/6/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
A two-hander, often confined to a single vehicle, there might be shades of Drive or Collateral, but that Tiptronic Aristotlean unity is shared with other fare like 4x4 and Locke. This is discomfiting in places, smoothing over the occasional bounce with a uniformity of look and tone. Pedants might object to it being dated to the 22nd day of Christmas but error and repetition are indicative.
When talking about films there is an expectation created by using the word 'twist', and even in the act of typing it an expectation is created. Yet Night Drive isn't just about expectations, spurning winding roads for the suburban and motorway emptiness of Los Angeles.
Indeed, for all the turns it's the two central - Aj Bowen as rideshare driver Russel, and Sophie Dalah's Charlotte - that convey us best. He, older, sufficiently on his uppers to be using a pristine Porsche...
When talking about films there is an expectation created by using the word 'twist', and even in the act of typing it an expectation is created. Yet Night Drive isn't just about expectations, spurning winding roads for the suburban and motorway emptiness of Los Angeles.
Indeed, for all the turns it's the two central - Aj Bowen as rideshare driver Russel, and Sophie Dalah's Charlotte - that convey us best. He, older, sufficiently on his uppers to be using a pristine Porsche...
- 8/3/2021
- by Andrew Robertson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Russell (Aj Bowen) is a good guy. We know because his joint rideshare driver helps a customer by carrying her giant wreath to the door before refusing a tip with a genuine “Merry Christmas.” You kind of have to be if you’re working a thankless job on the biggest holiday of the year so you won’t go insane before igniting a killing spree. “Good” doesn’t equal “saint,” however. He’s not going to pass up a couple hundred dollars when the next fare (Sophie Dalah’s Charlotte) asks him to wait for her without wanting to waste time putting in a second destination. And he’s not above massaging a couple hundred more out by saying he’ll have to cancel plans to comply. So don’t believe he’s innocent of what transpires next.
Complicity is one thing, but active participation is different. Russell watches Charlotte...
Complicity is one thing, but active participation is different. Russell watches Charlotte...
- 8/3/2021
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Dark Sky Films have announced the August 6th US theatrical and digital release of Night Drive, a shocking ride with a wicked sense of humor from the filmmakers behind the cabin-in-the-woods thriller Dead Night.
Russell is a driver in Los Angeles who’s reeling from a series of bad decisions. While his life seems to be caught in a downward spiral, a business proposition from an alluring but enigmatic passenger named Charlotte proves too good to turn down. A simple ride turns deadly, catapulting Russell into an even darker place, but Charlotte may be the key to a second chance he thought he’d never have… if he can make it through the night.
Surprising at every turn and with a wickedly dark sense of humor, directors Meghan Leon’s and Bradford Baruh’s Night Drive is an unforgettably shocking ride-along with a seemingly normal man and the most abnormal of passengers…...
Russell is a driver in Los Angeles who’s reeling from a series of bad decisions. While his life seems to be caught in a downward spiral, a business proposition from an alluring but enigmatic passenger named Charlotte proves too good to turn down. A simple ride turns deadly, catapulting Russell into an even darker place, but Charlotte may be the key to a second chance he thought he’d never have… if he can make it through the night.
Surprising at every turn and with a wickedly dark sense of humor, directors Meghan Leon’s and Bradford Baruh’s Night Drive is an unforgettably shocking ride-along with a seemingly normal man and the most abnormal of passengers…...
- 6/24/2021
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Vixen By Micheline Pitt Announces New Ghostbusters™ Clothing And Accessories Collection: "Los Angeles, CA – June 21, 2021 – Vixen by Micheline Pitt, the LA-based design house known for vintage-style fashion inspired by 1950s bad girls and ‘80s flair, is thrilled to announce the launch of an all-new officially licensed collection celebrating everyone’s favorite paranormal investigators - Ghostbusters!
Launching today at 4pm Pt/7pm Et at MichelinePitt.com, the Vixen by Micheline Pitt Ghostbusters Collection includes dresses, skirts, shirts, and bags featuring and inspired by the Ghostbusters rogues gallery of spectral baddies including the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Slimer, Gozer, Terror Dogs, and more, along with the ever-iconic “No Ghosts” Ghostbusters logo.
“Being a kid of the 80’s, I grew up watching the original Ghostbusters film religiously. Like anyone who watched this movie, I wanted to be a Ghostbuster. I definitely pretended to be Venkman on too many occasions growing up while playing with my vintage proton pack.
Launching today at 4pm Pt/7pm Et at MichelinePitt.com, the Vixen by Micheline Pitt Ghostbusters Collection includes dresses, skirts, shirts, and bags featuring and inspired by the Ghostbusters rogues gallery of spectral baddies including the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Slimer, Gozer, Terror Dogs, and more, along with the ever-iconic “No Ghosts” Ghostbusters logo.
“Being a kid of the 80’s, I grew up watching the original Ghostbusters film religiously. Like anyone who watched this movie, I wanted to be a Ghostbuster. I definitely pretended to be Venkman on too many occasions growing up while playing with my vintage proton pack.
- 6/22/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
"Take a deep breath... Finish the job." Dark Sky Films has released official trailer for yet another new ride share driver thriller titled Night Drive, from filmmakers Brad Baruh & Meghan Leon. This one twists the concept a little bit and makes the passenger the villain as their strange ride goes into the night. A ride share driver's life is turned upside down after an unexpected series of misfortunes. When a business proposition takes him to even darker places than before, he hopes that he can somehow survive the night. "Surprising at every turn and with a wickedly dark sense of humor Leon & Baruh's Night Drive is an unforgettably shocking ride-along with a seemingly normal man and the most abnormal of passengers." The film stars Aj Bowen & Sophie Dalah, along with Reba Buhr. Maybe it's just me, but I'm getting really tired of all these ride share thrillers - they're all so dull and derivative,...
- 6/22/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In Night Drive, a comedy of errors unfolds after a ride-share app driver (Aj Bowen) picks up an intriguing young woman (Sophie Dalah) and quickly realizes that his passenger is about to keep him on his toes in some very unexpected ways. Night Drive recently celebrated its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2019, and Daily Dead sat down with both of the film’s directors, Meghan Leon and Brad Baruh, as well as the cast – Bowen, Dalah and Scott Poythress – to hear about their experiences collaborating on Night Drive, how their tight-knit group came together throughout production on the darkly comedic holiday romp (yay for more Christmas-centric movies!), and more!
If we could start with you, Meghan and Brad, and talk about the story. It’s very ambitious, but it’s all condensed within this one night, so were there any unique challenges for you, in terms of hitting those narrative high points?...
If we could start with you, Meghan and Brad, and talk about the story. It’s very ambitious, but it’s all condensed within this one night, so were there any unique challenges for you, in terms of hitting those narrative high points?...
- 10/9/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Stars: Brea Grant, Aj Bowen, Barbara Crampton, Sophie Dalah, Elise Luthman, Joshua Hoffman, Daniel Roebuck, Joy Osmanski, Alison Haislip, Sky Soleil, Alexander Ward, Dianna Miranda, Ryan Schwartzman | Written by Irving Walker | Directed by Brad Baruh
I can see some people already rolling their eyes when they hear about another ‘cabin in the woods’ style horror movie. Yes there has been a lot of them in the last 5, 10, even 20 years but plenty of good ones. I was hoping Dead Night would be one of these good ones.
It at least tries to do things differently. Not long after it begins, we are told what is going to happen in the movie via a TV documentary. Those kind of shows that explain ‘real-life’ crime and have ‘re-enactments’ when there’s no actual footage. But this show only shows one side of the story and the movie itself shows something that turns out completely different.
I can see some people already rolling their eyes when they hear about another ‘cabin in the woods’ style horror movie. Yes there has been a lot of them in the last 5, 10, even 20 years but plenty of good ones. I was hoping Dead Night would be one of these good ones.
It at least tries to do things differently. Not long after it begins, we are told what is going to happen in the movie via a TV documentary. Those kind of shows that explain ‘real-life’ crime and have ‘re-enactments’ when there’s no actual footage. But this show only shows one side of the story and the movie itself shows something that turns out completely different.
- 8/13/2018
- by Alain Elliott
- Nerdly
*there are spoilers here. Director: Brad Baruh. Writers: Irving Walker and Brad Baruh. Cast: Elise Luthman, Joshua Hoffman, James Bartz, Mikie Beatty, Joseph Bishara, Aj Bowen, Shauna Case and Jagger Chase. Good night or Dead Night, the name of this feature, is a euphemism trying to be developed in this creature feature, slasher cum cabin in the wood scenario. Here, the Pollack family are about to arrive at a retreat. James (Aj Bowen) has cancer and the forest sanctuary they are going to has a mystic reputation for healing. Just how that works is uncertain. I can guess that's due to either ley lines or a meteorite that crashed at this spot over a millennia ago. Both are implied. Casey (Brea Grant) and their children, Jessica (Sophie Dalah) and Jason (Joshua Hoffman), are together for some family bonding time. By all indications, James is dying. Tagging along is Jessica’s...
- 7/26/2018
- by noreply@blogger.com (Ed Sum)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
I don’t know about you but there’s something very eerie about horrors that take place during winter – Thanks a lot Stanley Kubrick! Now imagine being in the woods during winter while sleeping in a cabin with a lost stranger. Red flags all over the place. Thanks to Dark Sky Films, you no longer have to imagine it. Dead Night may be something you’ve been waiting for. Check out the trailer below.
James and his wife Casey load up their two teenage kids and head out to a remote cabin in Oregon for a weekend trip. When James heads into the snowy forest in search of firewood, he encounters an enigmatic woman passed out in the snow. Bringing her back to the cabin for help, the family has no way of knowing that the woman’s presence is the catalyst for a series of events that will change their lives forever.
James and his wife Casey load up their two teenage kids and head out to a remote cabin in Oregon for a weekend trip. When James heads into the snowy forest in search of firewood, he encounters an enigmatic woman passed out in the snow. Bringing her back to the cabin for help, the family has no way of knowing that the woman’s presence is the catalyst for a series of events that will change their lives forever.
- 6/30/2018
- by Chris Salce
- Age of the Nerd
"I was born and raised in these woods… I'll be just fine."
Yeah... right. We all know what happens when people think the woods is a good place to go on a relaxing vacation. Dark and sinister things happen and people die! That's the truth because it happens in every horror movie that is set in the woods!
We've got a creepy trailer for an upcoming horror film called Dead Night, and it actually looks like it's worth checking out. But that's coming from a guy who loves watching horror movies, even the bad ones. I like what I'm seeing in this trailer, though, it looks like it going to be a wildly eerie horror flick with some surprising twists and turns.
The movie stars Brea Grant (Heroes) and 80's horror icon Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, You're Next, From Beyond) and this is the synopsis:
James and his wife Casey load...
Yeah... right. We all know what happens when people think the woods is a good place to go on a relaxing vacation. Dark and sinister things happen and people die! That's the truth because it happens in every horror movie that is set in the woods!
We've got a creepy trailer for an upcoming horror film called Dead Night, and it actually looks like it's worth checking out. But that's coming from a guy who loves watching horror movies, even the bad ones. I like what I'm seeing in this trailer, though, it looks like it going to be a wildly eerie horror flick with some surprising twists and turns.
The movie stars Brea Grant (Heroes) and 80's horror icon Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, You're Next, From Beyond) and this is the synopsis:
James and his wife Casey load...
- 6/29/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
"I was born and raised in these woods... I'll be just fine." Dark Sky Films has released an official trailer for a horror film titled Dead Night, which is the feature directorial debut of a producer on John Dies at the End. The film features two different storylines about a terrifying night in the woods. Here's the quick synopsis for this: a caring mother loses her sanity, setting off a chain of events resulting in tragedy and murder. The story of Casey Pollack unfolds from two very different perspectives when one night in the woods culminates in absolute terror. Dead Night stars Brea Grant, 80's horror icon Barbara Crampton, plus Aj Bowen, Sophie Dalah, Elise Luthman, and Joshua Hoffman. I'm digging the snowy setting for this film, and it looks like it has some very gnarly, freaky twists. Another intriguing horror film to add to your watch queue. Here's the...
- 6/28/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Dark Sky Films has announced a July 27th theatrical and VOD release for Bradford Baruh's directorial debut, Dead Night. Along with the official trailer, we also have the initial list of screening locations.
"James and his wife Casey load up their two teenage kids and head out to a remote cabin in Oregon for a weekend trip. When James heads into the snowy forest in search of firewood, he encounters an enigmatic woman passed out in the snow. Bringing her back to the cabin for help, the family has no way of knowing that the woman's presence is the catalyst for a series of events that will change their lives forever."
Dead Night stars Brea Grant, Aj Bowen, Sophie Dalah, Elise Luthman, Joshua Hoffman, Daniel Roebuck and Barbara Crampton.
Current Theater List (others to be added):
New York, Cinema Village Houston, TX - Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, Va - Alamo Drafthouse Portland,...
"James and his wife Casey load up their two teenage kids and head out to a remote cabin in Oregon for a weekend trip. When James heads into the snowy forest in search of firewood, he encounters an enigmatic woman passed out in the snow. Bringing her back to the cabin for help, the family has no way of knowing that the woman's presence is the catalyst for a series of events that will change their lives forever."
Dead Night stars Brea Grant, Aj Bowen, Sophie Dalah, Elise Luthman, Joshua Hoffman, Daniel Roebuck and Barbara Crampton.
Current Theater List (others to be added):
New York, Cinema Village Houston, TX - Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, Va - Alamo Drafthouse Portland,...
- 6/27/2018
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Having had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, it was time for everyone associated with Applecart to begin chatting about the film! So, when we got the opportunity to hang out with stars Brea Grant, Barbara Crampton, Sophie Dalah, and… Continue Reading →
The post Exclusive: Barbara Crampton, Brea Grant, and More Talk Applecart at Fantastic Fest 2017 appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Exclusive: Barbara Crampton, Brea Grant, and More Talk Applecart at Fantastic Fest 2017 appeared first on Dread Central.
- 9/26/2017
- by Jonathan Barkan
- DreadCentral.com
Stars: Sarah Hyland, Justin Chon, Clara Mamet, Anthony Carrigan, Steven Krueger, Sophie Dalah, Marc Barnes, Stevin Knight | Written by Anthony Jaswinski | Directed by Jeffrey G. Hunt
So we have a bunch of teens, most of whom are stoners, some are goths, some are jocks; messing with ouija boards and thinking that satanic tourism is “cool”, who stumble into real satanic goings-on. Plus there’s a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it cameo from modern-day scream queen Devanny Pinn (Truth or Dare, House of Manson). That in a nutshell is Satanic.
As for an actual plot, the film sees four friends on their way to Coachella stop off in Los Angeles to tour true-crime Satanic Panic-era sites, only to find themselves interrupting an apparent human sacrifice. They save the young victim, but she turns out to be much more than dangerous then the cult from which she escaped, unleashing an evil spirit who will hunt...
So we have a bunch of teens, most of whom are stoners, some are goths, some are jocks; messing with ouija boards and thinking that satanic tourism is “cool”, who stumble into real satanic goings-on. Plus there’s a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it cameo from modern-day scream queen Devanny Pinn (Truth or Dare, House of Manson). That in a nutshell is Satanic.
As for an actual plot, the film sees four friends on their way to Coachella stop off in Los Angeles to tour true-crime Satanic Panic-era sites, only to find themselves interrupting an apparent human sacrifice. They save the young victim, but she turns out to be much more than dangerous then the cult from which she escaped, unleashing an evil spirit who will hunt...
- 1/23/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
According to Satanic, Hell isn’t a place you visit. As screenwriter Anthony Jaswinski pens, Hell is described as a “beautiful confusion.” Yet after watching this devil-worshipping shitshow, I’ve come up with my own definition of Hell. It’s a horror movie where all the action happens off-camera, continuity means squat, and the budget costs less than four General Admission tickets to Coachella. That’s any horror fan’s true Hell, which I found myself living out for an hour-and-twenty-something minutes while director Jeffrey G. Hunt attempted to recreate a slice of La’s “Satanic Panic.”
Spoiler Alert: He doesn’t.
Sarah Hyland stars as a Coachella-bound spring breaker (Chloe) who stops off in Los Angeles for a quick 2-day tour into the dark world of occult practices. This isn’t Chloe’s idea, though. Her cousin Elise (Clara Mamet) demands the other-worldly pitstop, so Chloe agrees despite her...
Spoiler Alert: He doesn’t.
Sarah Hyland stars as a Coachella-bound spring breaker (Chloe) who stops off in Los Angeles for a quick 2-day tour into the dark world of occult practices. This isn’t Chloe’s idea, though. Her cousin Elise (Clara Mamet) demands the other-worldly pitstop, so Chloe agrees despite her...
- 7/3/2016
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated new sports drama “Unbroken” from director Angelina Jolie about the true story of Olympian and war hero Louis “Louie” Zamperini!
The film is written by the Coen brothers (“No Country for Old Men,” “Fargo”).
“Unbroken,” which opens on Dec. 25, 2014 and is rated “PG-13,” stars Jack O’Connell as Louie Zamperini along with Garrett Hedlund, Ken Watanabe, Domhnall Gleeson, Jai Courtney, Finn Wittrock, Morgan Griffin, Alex Russell, Sophie Dalah and Takamasa Ishihara from director and producer Angelina Jolie and writers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.
To win your free “Unbroken” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That’s it! This screening is on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you...
The film is written by the Coen brothers (“No Country for Old Men,” “Fargo”).
“Unbroken,” which opens on Dec. 25, 2014 and is rated “PG-13,” stars Jack O’Connell as Louie Zamperini along with Garrett Hedlund, Ken Watanabe, Domhnall Gleeson, Jai Courtney, Finn Wittrock, Morgan Griffin, Alex Russell, Sophie Dalah and Takamasa Ishihara from director and producer Angelina Jolie and writers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.
To win your free “Unbroken” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That’s it! This screening is on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you...
- 12/15/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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