Hellcab

"DO YOU DARE PAY THE FARE?" - Front Cover

Summary

"It's the darkest day of the year - winter solstice - 6:00 a.m. and 20 degrees below zero when an unsuspecting cab driver picks up his first fare. Unaware of what's to take place, the cabby drops the strange passengers, setting into motion an unstoppable, unalterable, unfathomable series of events. It's as if the cab mysteriously draws the most bizarre and dysfunctional people in the city. Exhausted and afraid, the driver summons all his courage to make it through his shift, but will he survive what's become the longest night of his life?" - Back Cover

Soundtrack - 3.5 Sticks of Butter

From Christmas music to rock and roll Hellcab has a rather unique soundtrack. Some of the music I personally wouldn't have chosen, but I do believe the music reflects the emotions of the cabdriver perfectly and was impressed with that.

Plot - 3.75 Sticks of Butter

Now some people might wish to contest this rating arguing that there is little plot to Hellcab since it seems to lack in any consistent character other than the cabdriver and there is little that we know about him, and throughout the movie we learn little more than we knew to begin with. However I see the plot not only in the main character but in all of the people he encounters. I believe the movie is focusing on human nature and how people cope with the multitude of experiences we encounter even if it is in one single day.

Action - 3 Sticks of Butter

This movie while not filled with much physical action was taxing on the mind. There were many intense scenes throughout Hellcab using the elements of uncertainty and character interaction. It was nice to see a film that worked the mind rather than using the much overdone physical action that we see on most thrillers. 

Effects - Not Applicable - Stick of Butter

Hellcab was not the type of movie that used or needed special effects therefore I am not rating this section. 

I will say that although it had no car chases, nor explosions, gore or other effects filming and lighting were great and you didn't see the same street buzz past the drivers window or the back seat window of the cab. 

Characters - 4 Stick of Butter

Hellcab was chalked full of characters. From a holy roller family to New York tourists. I think each one of the actors was able to pull off their roles and make them believable. The scriptwriter did wonderful job creating such a diverse grouping of people, and making their dialog sound natural - a welcome change from most movies.

I did however have a slight problem with the main character - the cabbie. Not that he was an annoying character nor and unbelievable character I just found him at times to sound slightly whiny. But towards the end of the movie he becomes almost endearing.

Overall Impressions - 3.75 Sticks of Butter

I found this video quite intriguing as it had interesting characters and an unconventional story line. However, I did not appreciate the misleading cover, after all when it states "Do you dare pay the fare?" what does that lead you to believe? If the title of the movie didn't make you think of a "Hell" cab that cover line would lead most people to believe that.  Granted the movie was worth watching so it was something I could look past.