37/27
Unfortunately, the movie is a bit like a taxi that keeps going around the block without ever reaching its destination
Line of Events
A couple who find their cheerful taxi driver leads them to a remote, haunted road, revealing his disturbing motives and true intentions. If you’re in the mood for a horror movie that can’t decide whether it wants to scare you with supernatural ghosts or chills with a serial killer’s backstab, then “Black Taxi” might just be your trip. The plot revolves around Anne (Shunjøve Carlsen) and Patrick (Luke Norris), an estranged couple who during the evening fall into the hands of a benevolent taxi driver played by Nick Frost.
The taxi driver played by Frost is one of the film’s greatest strengths
As night falls, in a confusing twist, the couple realize they’ve been kidnapped and trapped on a remote, enchanted road, where the lines between the driver’s dark motives and supernatural elements blur. What follows is a mix of psychological suspense and paranormal confusion that keeps both the characters and the audience guessing. Fans of his unique combination of humor and menace appreciate his dedication to the role.
Despite Frost’s best efforts, the script prevents him from becoming the truly soul-chilling villain the story needs
He brings his usual wit and tries to translate it into horror that peppers the first half of the film, though his character never reaches his full potential. His performance oscillates between dark charm and exaggerated ambiguity, making the character seem like a missed opportunity to achieve horror greatness. Goggins’ direction is atmospheric, especially in the way he conveys the claustrophobic, isolated road environment, using misty scenery and eerie silence to heighten the tension.
I found myself falling asleep at times because there is just a lot of dark driving throughout the movie
However, this careful work is somewhat undermined by a plot that can’t decide whether it wants to be a paranormal ghost story or a dark tale of kidnapping and human corruption. The film oscillates between these two subgenres of horror without committing to either, leaving viewers with a sense of its narrative whip. As a result, the pacing suffers: the first half is full of promise and tense, well-calibrated suspense, while the second half devolves into a somewhat chaotic dump of revelations that aren’t fully revealed.
It’s definitely a good one time watch
In the end, “Black Taxi” is a film that will appeal to those who like multi-layered suspense and fans of Nick Frost’s special approach to dark roles.