Black Cab – Movie Review | Shudder (2/5)

BLACK CAB on Shudder is a Supernatural Thriller starring Nick Frost. This time, he plays a character in an extremely serious and dark manner. Not in a fun way – at all – but, of course, he’s great. Read our full Black Cab movie review here!

BLACK CAB is a new Shudder thriller with a supernatural and haunting twist. The movie is from the UK and stars Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) and Synnøve Karlsen (Bodies).

For the first half, this movie had me pretty solidly in the palm of its proverbial hand. However, despite a runtime just shy of 90 minutes, it felt too long. The actors are good, but the story seems to stall too much – at least for my liking.

Continue reading our Black Cab movie review below. Find it streaming on Shudder from November 8, 2024.

The cab driver from Heaven or Hell?

When Black Cab begins, it’s with Anne and Patrick leaving a dinner with friends that has become rather awkward. They hail a black cab and Patrick seems to think he’s going home with Anne, who isn’t so sure about that plan.

The cab driver is chatty and charming, but also obviously worried about Anne. In fact, he asks her point blank if she needs help and if he should kick Patrick out of the cab. This is exactly the kind of cab driver you dream of as a woman.

But if you think this will last, then you haven’t read the plot, watched the trailer, or seen any images from the movie. The cab driver does not continue to be as kind and helpful as he first appears.

In fact, he drives them to a remote road that appears to be haunted. And yes, he has very sinister intentions. For good reason (according to himself), which doesn’t help the estranged couple much.

Nick Frost as the scary guy? Oh yeah!

In Black Cab, we see Nick Frost’s familiar face. A huge beard and large glasses can’t hide that funny and charming guy we know from Shaun of the Dead (2004) or, more recently, the Prime Video series Truth Seekers (2020).

Sure, in the latter, he also has the same huge beard, but other than that, the charming Nick Frost is nowhere to be seen in Black Cab.

As the cab driver, Nick Frost turns into one very scary guy. Is he cruel and brutal or simply misguided? Well, that is for you to find out. In either case, he is pretty damn terrifying when he wants to be.

Watch Black Cab on Shudder

The director of Black Cab is Bruce Goodison, who has directed many popular and critically acclaimed UK series. Including Born to Kill (2017),  Anne (2022), and the BAFTA-nominated Our World War.

The screenplay comes from David Michael Emerson. Additional material comes from star Nick Frost and screenwriter Virginia Gilbert (Reawakening).

Alongside Nick Frost, we see Synnøve Karlsen (Last Night in Soho) co-starring as Anne with Luke Norris (The Girl Before) as Patrick. Every actor delivers strong portrayals, but the story needs to be tighter.

Mostly, the issue is that there are 15 minutes or so going in circles. It’s a real shame as it does put a serious dent in the overall experience.

BLACK CAB premieres on Shudder on November 8, 2024.

Details

Director: Bruce Goodison
Cast: Nick Frost, Synnøve Karlsen, Luke Norris, Tessa Parr, Tilly Woodward, George Bukhari
Written by: David Michael Emerson, with additional material by Nick Frost and Virginia Gilbert