STORYLINE: After a young couple witnesses a gruesome highway accident, they soon realize they did not leave the crash scene alone, as a demonic presence called the Passenger won’t stop until it claims them both.  (IMDb)

“On the road again, I can’t wait to get on the road again” – Willie Nelson 

   Road trip movies have taken cinena goers down many roads.  The Oscar winning Green Book (2018) drove the dramatic road. Joy Ride (2023) took the comedic road to theaters.  1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert traveled the cinematic road with great music, and incredible costumes. The 2026 release, Passenger, travels the cinematic horror road.  

   Films inspired by urban legends and ghost stories, go together like peanut butter and jelly. Both tend to have a super natural element, a location such as a house being haunted, can feature some kind of possession, and 

 urban legends can feature ghosts.  Passenger, falls there, an urban legend ghost story.  It just happens to be a road movie.

    The film has the tropes, one has come to expect from a ghost tale.  They include helpless protagonists being haunted after doing the right thing, side characters who they seek to help them that who have been through something similar, and all leading to a spooky, action packed climax.  The plot is predictable, abd scares are routine. Passenger fits this mold perfectly.

    Every couple of years I enjoy seeing a film like this.  It’s why I like the Insidious movies.  Passenger entertained me for the 94 minute runtime.  That’s what I expected. 

    If, I am being honest I would of enjoyed it more if I had not seen The Mid-Night Driver earlier, this year. The comparison being it’s another urban legend based feature about a ghost and an automobile.

    Passenger is a ghost story/urban legend horror flick. It’s cookie cutter, and entertaining enough. 

    Until next time, I will see you at the movies!