May’s horror lineup has offered plenty to choose from, and the new film Passenger arrived with genuine buzz — but it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. For viewers weighing weekend plans or tracking the month’s standout scares, this release matters because it underlines how marketing can promise more depth than a film delivers.
What the film sets out to do
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The premise is straightforward: a young couple, Tyler and Maddie, ditch city life for an RV road trip and encounter a malevolent presence on the highway known only as The Passenger. The setup leans into familiar road-horror territory: isolation, limited escape routes and an antagonist that appears without warning.
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That simplicity is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the movie commits to delivering frequent shocks; on the other, it doesn’t always give those moments the narrative or emotional scaffolding needed to make them memorable.
- Director: André Øvredal
- Lead cast: Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo
- Tone: High on jump scares, low on slow-burn lore
- Availability: In theaters globally now
Where it succeeds
Technically, the film is often strong. The camera work in confined spaces tightens the atmosphere, and several sequences use lighting and color — notably the film’s red-hued scenes — to good effect. If your main goal is to be startled repeatedly, Passenger delivers: the scares come fast and frequently, and for a certain audience that’s precisely the point.
Where it falls short
The core problem is the lack of compelling stakes around the antagonist. The movie sketches a backstory for The Passenger but never builds it out in a way that deepens tension or curiosity. As a result, many set pieces feel like isolated jolts rather than parts of a suspenseful arc.
Another recurring issue is predictability. For seasoned horror viewers, several reveals and plot moves are foreseeable, which weakens their impact. The trailer also gives away more than it should, bluntly reducing the surprise factor for much of the audience.
The central relationship between Tyler and Maddie is supposed to carry the film emotionally, but their dynamic doesn’t always register as convincing. When a movie spends most of its runtime with two leads, that shortfall becomes more noticeable.
Verdict: who should see it?
If you prefer tightly woven mythology or long-building dread, Passenger is unlikely to satisfy. But if you enjoy rapid-fire scares and atmospherics, it can be an effective, if shallow, ride. Given the crowded field of recent horror releases, this one slips behind fresher, more inventive entries.
For context: coming from a director known for the acclaimed Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, expectations were high. Passenger doesn’t erase Øvredal’s previous successes, but it does show how a promising concept can be undercut by a focus on surface-level frights over meaningful payoff.
Bottom line: a well-shot, jump-scare-driven film that may satisfy viewers seeking immediate shocks, but it lacks the narrative depth and memorable antagonist needed to stand out among this year’s better horror offerings.
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.