The Driver (2019) Review


The Driver (2019)

Directed By: Wych Kaosayananda

Starring: Mark Dacascos, Julie Condra, Noelani Dacascos

Synopsis: After a plague of the undead decimates human life on earth, a former hit man (Mark Dacascos, John Wick 3), his wife (Julie Condra, “Eerie, Indiana”), and daughter, Bree (Noelani Dacascos, Oh Lucy!), live quietly in a survivalist compound. But when their base is attacked, a massive explosion summons a swarm of the undead. They escape and must seek out the Haven – a rumored sanctuary up north – while the father teaches his daughter to shoot, drive, and survive before time runs out.

Review: I have always been a fan of Mark Dacascos. One of my all time favourites movies of Marks was the Action movie The Base. Probably one of the first Dacascos movies I had watched and I knew from then it wouldn’t be the last. Recently Mark was seen going head to head with Keanu Reeves as lead villain Zero in John Wick 3.

Mark is back on our screens in a lead role, he plays The Driver, a character whose name is never mentioned, but is only known for what he does, which is simply drive.

The movie is set in a time where zombies are roaming and people are living in built up fortified areas and have started their own communities of sorts. Naturally there is a breach by another group of people who want to take the community for all they have and the community falls. ‘The Driver’ takes his wife and daughter and leaves to find a safe zone known only as ‘The Haven’.

I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I was surprised too see that this movie was more character based rather than a full out Zombie shoot them by numbers movie

I got to watch an advanced look at the movie so green screen was present in scenes and during the raid on the community there was wires clearly visible. The raid on the community is the big battle of the movie which sees Mark flexing his fighting skills and gunning down Zombies, which was quite awesome to say the least. After this the movie turns into a road movie where ‘The Driver’ is teaching is Daughter how to survive in the apocalyptic times while heading to find ‘The Haven’. Along the way we get some shootouts etc which are always welcome.

The movie is quite solid. I know some people will be disappointed that its not all guns, explosions and hordes of the undead getting mown down. What made this worth watching is the bond between ‘The Driver’ and his family – which in turn are Marks real wife and daughter. Know performances are phoned in and I was surprised at how good of an actress Marks daughter Noelani Dacascos is. All the scenes between her and Mark were on par and added much more depth to the story.

Over all, I would say give it a watch. Zombie dramas may not attract the widest of followers but people loved Schwarzeneggers ‘Maggie’. While being more drama/story then action, the movie does deliver on its action scenes and has some pretty cool twists throughout. The ending sets up a sequel and the introduction of a character I think people will love. For a movie that was apparently shot in 9 days I found it too be quite good and I look forward to how this world director Wych Kaosayananda created will evolve.

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