Ride

Ride is a 2019 gripping suspense-thriller movie that ropes in audiences with its intriguing plot and compelling performances of its leading characters. The film stars esteemed actor Jolene Andersen, along with Lauren Brown and Monica Cho, who brilliantly portray their specific roles, dishing out tremendous performances that strike impactfully on the screen.

The plot of Ride revolves around the theme of modern technology, seamless real-time tracking, and ride-share apps, pushing technology's implications on privacy and security to the extreme. Directed by Jeremy Ungar, the movie plugs into this prevalent and universal fear associated with ride-hailing applications and intelligently bundles it with edge-of-seat suspense. What begins as a seemingly ordinary narrative soon spirals into an intense psychological drama that keeps you guessing until the final seconds.

The film opens with James (Jessie T. Usher), an Uber-like rideshare driver, spending his evening on familiar city streets, patiently waiting for new customers. Enter a seemingly usual passenger, played by Bella Thorne, whose harboring secrets threaten to turn a routine passenger pick-up into a living nightmare for James. The late-night ride then takes a grim turn as James finds himself caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse matching wits against this mysterious passenger.

As the story progresses, we meet Bruno - a highly engaging role brought to life by Jolene Anderson- a charismatic but insidious man with a heavy dose of charisma and a dangerous edge. Bruno sparks off an evening of intense drama and suspense as he starts manipulating both James and his passenger, skilfully using his aura and the claustrophobic environment of a car to his advantage. Jolene Anderson truly shines in this role, bringing in an element of uncertainty and menace to her depiction of Bruno, charging every scene with electricity.

The film is beautifully supported by Lauren Brown and Monica Cho, who further enhance the thrilling fable with their gripping performances. They bring in additional layers and depth to the story, providing pivotal turns to the narrative. Their contributions add vibrancy and tension to the storyline, creating a palpable tension that underscores the suspense of the tale.

Ride uses the omnipresent fear associated with ride-hailing apps and takes it to another level with an intense and thrilling narrative. It serves as a commentary on our reliance on technology, emphasizing how it can compromise our sense of privacy and security, all wrapped up in a psychological suspense drama that leaves audiences on their seat's edge. It provokes questions about trust and safety, manipulation, and mind games, probing deeper into the human psyche against a backdrop of digital dependency.

One of the impressive aspects of the film is the cinematography and editing. The camera work smartly uses the limited space of a moving car to develop a sense of tension and suspense. The night atmosphere adds to the ominous overtones of the story unfolding within the car, with effective light and shadow play. The film's editing complements well with its fast-paced nature, making sure that the audience is grappled to their seats throughout the run.

Ride also benefits from a solid synthesized score that adds another layer to the film’s moody aura. The tension-filled music enhances the unfolding suspense, echoing the character's escalating fear. It's a vehicle-based thriller with a techno edge that certainly succeeds in instilling a sense of dread.

For those who thrive on intense thrillers with psychological undertones, Ride serves as an excellent watch. It brilliantly utilises its confined setting to provoke a sense of impending doom, alongside stellar performances by its cast, especially Jolene Anderson. It turns an ordinary car ride into a haunting and suspenseful story that delves into universal themes of trust, safety, and the dangers of today's interconnected world. Ride is a ride worth taking, a suspenseful journey full of turns and twists that leaves your heart racing and forces you to reconsider your next app-hailed ride.