DASHCAM

When Rob Savage burst on to the scene with Host, a claustrophobic horror film that utilised the Zoom platform to such good effect, he became a new name to look out for within the horror genre. It was at the perfect time too when many people around the world were using Zoom to contact loved ones throughout the pandemic. Savage is back with Dashcam, a film that manages to outdo Host in terms of insanity and one that should be experienced with a packed audience.

At the start of the pandemic, an indulgent and self-deluded livestreaming improv musician abandons L.A. for London, steals her ex-band mate's car, and makes the wrong decision to give a ride to an elderly woman who is not what she seems.

Don't look up anything about Dashcam before going to see it because it's best to experience this film without a hint of what's about to happen. Seriously, Savage lives up to his name with a truly wild ride that takes a number of wrong turns throughout at the expense of the audience. The camera footage can be a little sickly at times, frustrating as you try to make out what's happening, yet it's effective in putting you right in the shoes of these characters as they go through the motions as much as we do.

Utilising an iPhone for handheld shots and a dashcam within the car is definitely something that should be applauded. The writing is a little flimsy and it's not as tight a film as Host but it requires you to go along with it the moment strange shit starts to happen. It may not be the best horror film you see all year but I can guarantee you there won't be many more as entertaining as this.

There is a problem with the main character being incredibly unlikeable and one that people may find it hard to root for but that can be counteracted with the use of the live chat within the livestreaming aspect of the film, aiming jokes towards her as she shouts her mouth off about anyone and anything. Annie is someone who believes her own hype yet doesn't exactly have the following you'd expect someone of that nature to have, and it's played brilliantly by Annie Hardy. 

Dashcam is all about the chaos and, quite honestly, I wish I could have seen it with an audience because I'm sure it's going to be a blast hearing live reactions to this film. Rob Savage is certainly going to be a name that makes me stand up and pay attention in the future.

Verdict: ★★★