Horror fans know they shouldn’t get too attached to any one character…unless it’s The Last Girl.
The genre wipes out most of the cast before the end of the credits, and audiences will have no choice.
So it’s a treat for a character to not only stick together but make his or her presence felt. Meet Blasco, the chauffeur at the heart of “The Passenger”. Actor Ramiro Blas elevates the mid-range material in this Spanish import, presenting an anti-hero we’ll be cheering on without a reservation.
Even if he’s not as suitable as Archie Bunker sometimes.
Blas’s Blasco was a second-class driver carrying three women to their destination. He talks to be guilty, even though his passengers would rather he shut the door. He admits he is a chauvinist, and his colorful stories could use a vindication.
The real kind, not the kind that harm modern journalism.
The trio consists of a sick woman with a tireless spirit and a mother and daughter carrying a lot of personal baggage. Blasco has an inexplicable relationship with young Marta (Paula Gallego), a moody teenager who strangely finds ways to comfort his backward.
Their ride becomes more bumpy when Blasco’s ramshackle truck runs over a woman late at night. However, the alleged victim did not stay long. The body may not be of this earth, but it is intended to make the main characters miserable.
The small cast allows us to get to know the main characters, something atypical in the genre. Heck, even the van Blasco drives, which he affectionately calls Nessa, has more personality than most horror movies.
Get ready to hit the road with the Spanish thriller, THE PASSENGER aka LA PASAJERA. We’ll give you a hint of what you can expect in terms of grotesque images + buckets and buckets of blood!
Premiering in limited theaters THIS Friday, June 3 with a DVD On-Demand+ release on June 28. pic.twitter.com/0BFRQsvFGv
– Dark Star Images (@DarkStarPics) May 28, 2022
The film’s unique, snappy score adds an extra punch to the progression, at least until elements of horror invade the screen.
“The Passenger” was billed as a horror comedy, but the latter did not receive much attention. Sure, Blasco is a good one, but chucklers will step back from the genre’s position.
Only the creature at the center of the film, titled “Invasion of Body Poachers,” is unappealing. Its back story is lackluster, but that’s not a sin. It doesn’t pose a consistent threat to our heroes, and the film’s slow approach to tension makes no sense.
It’s great to hear Marta and Blasco bicker, sometimes like family when they’ve just met, but it’s still a horror movie. Where is the feeling that at any moment doom may descend upon them?
The “passenger” should make a compelling third act once it’s established, but we’re seen as more colorful exchanges than real scares.
We’ve seen many of the elements thrown into “The Passenger” before, and the F/X practically shows the limitations of dodging the wonders of CGI.
The cranky Blasco, however, is a one-of-a-kind soul that deserves a better movie.
Hit or miss: “Passenger” may be as bland as its title, but a lively performance gives the film a sense of its purpose.
