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Have you ever gone on a road trip? Then the new Passenger film may be perfect for you. Paramount Pictures' release, Passenger, is directed by André Øvredal and set to premiere on May 22nd, 2026. The film is in collaboration with Domain Entertainment and is produced by Walter Hamada and Gary Dauberman. The trailer starts with an eerie statistic that “130 million people went on road trips last year,” but around 15,000 of them were never seen again. Described on the official Passenger website, this film depicts a young couple who see a disastrous highway accident while they are on the road, “they soon realize they did not leave the crash scene alone, as a demonic presence called the Passenger that won't stop until it claims them both, turns their van life adventure into a nightmare.”
This movie caught my attention as, one could say, a fellow nervous traveler. The film, displaying unseen demonic forces that are at play, is genuinely terrifying. But as I was looking at the reactions to this trailer, it seemed those sentiments are very popular. Comments on the film's trailer feature replies talking about the terrifying jump scares and the impressively scary sound design. The idea of being in a new place with unfamiliar faces and traditions is accurate. The anxiety that surrounds the couple as they approach their vacation spot is one that almost every vacation-goer has felt.
André Øvredal is known for his work directing films such as Troll Hunter (2010) and The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016). Ten years later, Passengers could be his newest success. The film features a few main characters. Tyler, played by Jacob Scipio, is known for his roles in the Bad Boys franchise. Lou Llobell, known for her role in the T.V. series Foundation, as Maddie. Melissa Leo, who played in The Equalizer with Denzel Washington, played Diana.
The antagonist in the film, the “Passenger” or the highway stalker, is played by Joseph Lopez, who is probably the smallest name on the cast list. This is interesting to note because this performance could be a real catalyst for Lopez in terms of more roles in the future, if that is something he would like to pursue. Due to the terrifying description of the “Passenger,” there is a lot of space for Lopez to display his abilities in a thriller role. This could be Lopez’s "Amy Madigan Moment".
As scary as the trailer was, anticipation for this film is high. Especially following a record-breaking year in the Academy for the Horror Genre. An Oscar sweep of the vampire-thriller Sinners and the win of Amy Madigan as “Best Supporting Actress” in the film Weapons reminded viewers of all kinds that Horror films can be seen as a legitimate art form. Passenger has the capability to be a household horror film, but you have to wait until May 22nd to find out!
See you at the theatre!
