Vehicle 19
Dir: Mukunda Michael Dewil
2013
*
Mukunda Michael Dewil's 2013 action thriller Vehicle 19 desperately wants to be a Hitchcockian style thriller but doesn't come anywhere near close. It becomes clear that it is essentially a situation thriller, our protagonist spending pretty much every scene within the confines of a car. Now this was done soon after in Steven Knight's simple but effective film Locke, starring Tom Hardy. It was also done successfully in the very underrated Phone Booth back in 2002 (a film that was based on a Hitchcock idea). Both Locke and Phone Booth pushed the idea of and explored the possibilities of when someone is trapped and/or limited in what they can do. This doesn't come across very well at all, in fact the fact that he is always in a car could easily pass the viewer by. There is no character development and Walker brings nothing of interest in his performance. There is little suspense or intensity and absolutely no thrill. In fact from the onset, the film is woefully contrived (I'm looking at you blind man crossing the street) and devoid of substance. It's not even successful as a mindless action film.