Black Cab — Black Cab(Blu Ray)
Black Cab is a 2024 film that attempts to blend together a kidnapping cabbie thriller, with an uneasy ghost story. Playing the films, at first happy-go-lucky, later unbalanced/ unpredictable, cab driver is Nick Frost( Space, Shaun Of The Dead, Paul). Here from Acon Entertainment is a Blu-ray release of the film.
Black Cab is a US production made in the UK. It was directed by British filmmaker Bruce Goodison, who to date has thirty-six credits to his name, most of which are based- be they drama series episodes, or TV films. Though he’s been actively directing since the late 90s, Black Cab is his first feature-length film. It was written by Virginia Gilbert- who has six other credits to her name; these include romantic drama set in the south of France A Long Way From Home (2013), two episodes of Silent Witness, and bleak reappearing child drama Reawakening (2024).
From the off and throughout, there is a rather dreamy, at points hazed and lightly stylized quality to the film, which at points does take away some of the tension/ edge to the film. After the decidedly murkly lite countryside road footage backed credits- we meet our other lead the rather sullen/ pale Anne (Synnove Karlsen)- she is awoken in her grey apartment, and fairly soon we figure out she is talking to her estranged partner Patrick( Luke Noris)- who is trying to worm his way back into her apartment/ life.
Next, we switch to a completely deserted bar where Anne, smug and obnoxious Patrick, and two other friends are chatting. Again, he forces the point that he’s coming back to hers, and clearly, she is not too keen. She rushes outside to hail a cab, and up pulls the bearded and large sovereign ringed Alex( Frost). Both she and Alex get inside, and at first Alex seems jovial, pleasant and rather protective of Anne- asking if she wants him to drop off the unpleasant Patrick first- but all of a sudden he pulls off to a side road, and the cabbies tone switches to be very unpredictable, at points decidedly cold hearted/ unbalanced. As they drive out of the city, with both Anne & Patrick wondering where they end up, and what the cabbie has in mind for them. And here I’ll finish my plot rundown- so as not to spoil what unfolds, but I can say that ghost story element comes into play later on.
Forst was effective as the at first charming, then unpredictable/ unbalanced black cab driver- and really, he’s the main hook/ reason to watch the film. Both Karlsen and Noris are fine in their roles. I found the issue here was the pacing/ lack of real edge/ tension. Yes, there are a few tense moments, but the script just doesn't add enough suspense/ danger into the situation.
When the ghost is brought in, and slowly develops, this is ok- with a few decent touches of creepy disquiet- but the detail of the ghost element felt somewhat muddled/ unclear.
The only extra on the disc is a two-minute and eleven-minute behind-the-scenes picture gallery. And optional subtitles.
I’d seen the trailers of Black Cab, and was most looking forward to seeing it- but I’m afraid to say I was somewhat underwhelmed- been left with a passable, if flawed film, both in the thriller and ghost story stakes. On the positive side, Frost plays his unpredictable character well, and I look forward to him doing more roles like this. For the first thirty or forty minutes of the film, I was held well enough, though then the pacing issues came into play, and lastly, I liked the idea of the ghost element, but it just lacked clarity. I’d say if you enjoy mixed thriller/ horror genre films, give it a go, just don’t expect too much.