Self Driver asks one simple question: How far is an individual who’s struggling financially willing to go to make fast cash?
Director: Michael Pierro
Genre: Thriller
Run Time: 90′
Fantasia Premiere: August 2-4, 2024
Release Date: TBA
What lengths would you go to in order to make a living and survive? This is the question posed in the thriller Self Driver, which is having its North American premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival. Made for under ten thousand dollars in a mere fourteen nights, this project is an outstanding achievement for first-time feature filmmaker Michael Pierro.
The movie explores the challenges of low-paying independent work in a world with rising inflation costs. It also reflects the unpredictability of when the next job may arrive, how much revenue will be made from it, and what some people may be willing to do to provide for their families.
D (Nathanael Chadwick) is a gig worker struggling to make ends meet. He drives for an app called VRMR!, but the money he makes transporting passengers from point A to B isn’t the greatest. Not to mention the added cost of refueling his car while on the job. He also has a partner and newborn to support financially, and the landlord won’t stop calling throughout the day as D defaulted on his rent payment.
One day, when D is picking up a customer from the airport, the mysterious man sitting in the backseat of his car asks him if he’d be interested in being a driver for his new startup. D’s passenger suggests that he could make as much as 4-5K a night. Plus, there’s an intriguing sign-on bonus. As D is desperate for money, he accepts the offer, yet once he starts driving for the mysterious Tonomo app, not all is what it seems. He is urged not to interact with any of his customers, and every person who enters his car appears to be involved in questionable activities. As the night unfolds, there’s no doubt that the financial gain from this new job is impressive, but what D is requested to participate in gets stranger and stranger as the night unfolds.
Of all the films I have seen while covering Fantasia, Self Driver resonates with me the most. As a contract courier myself, I found the feature’s plot enticing and the portrayal of driver gig work relatable and accurate. The movie has much to say about the struggles independent work can present for individuals attempting to cover living expenses. In this profession, one’s income solely depends on the demand for the service they are offering, which frequently fluctuates. Inflation also makes such jobs unpredictable. As a self-employed driver, you never know what you’ll earn in a day once you hit the road.
D has various driving jobs that come through the app daily. However, he still has the added challenge of wear and tear on his car. He must also allocate wages to gas costs and replenish what feels like an ever-depleting tank. In essence, Self Driver is an ode to every gig worker who endures long hours and invests maximum effort into a job that doesn’t cover basic needs.
Considering Self Driver’s low budget and the fact that almost all of the film is shot inside a car, which could quickly become mundane for some, the film finds ways to keep viewers on their toes and invested in the narrative. With every new job that D accepts (all of which show a hefty payout for the job upfront), the audience can’t help but wonder what he will have to do to be paid out such a significant amount once the task is complete. After all, no one is getting paid $500 for doing absolutely nothing. Though the benefits are astronomical, at the same time, the smallest of mistakes can result in a significant pay deduction. One of Tonomo’s stringent rules is that the in-app navigation must always be followed. There are no exceptions, no shortcuts.
Each passenger entering the car is also a bit of an enigma, adding to the film’s allure and Tonomo’s ambiguity. As a new customer enters D’s vehicle, you wait for something sinister to occur, and an array of questions enter your mind. Does the creator of the app have a hidden motive? Who are these people D is picking up? What makes them willing to pay so much money for this private service? Why isn’t D allowed to speak to them? If D takes a wrong turn, why is he penalized with a pay deduction? The mystery surrounding this cryptic app keeps the suspense alive, and when the payout of each job gets higher throughout the evening, you wonder how far D is willing to go.
Part of what makes Self Driver work so well is Chadwick’s portrayal of D. At no point during the film do you feel like you’re watching an actor play a character, as he brings so much realism to our protagonist. As you watch D grapple with financial burdens while desperately trying to make a living, you sympathize with him. He feels like an ordinary guy desperately treading water to stay afloat, and Chadwick was the perfect casting decision for the role and carries the film entirely. Thankfully, his authentic portrayal of a guy frustrated with financial pressure pays off. D is a character that the audience wants to see succeed and are invested in from the get-go.
Self-Driver also introduces humor at just the right moments without overdoing it. Some customer/driver interactions are very awkward and reminiscent of experiences you imagine can happen in real life during a cab ride. Considering D’s predicament and the film’s intense thriller elements, there is enough relatable comedy to give us relief just at the right moments. Pierro’s directing also allows us to experience D’s state of mind at any given time. Much of the film is experienced through camera close-ups of D’s face. This creates tension and intimacy with the audience and draws attention to significant details.
Earlier in this review, I mentioned that many questions surrounding the Tonomo app are left unanswered. While I understand the ambiguity presented in Self Driver creates a lot of mystery and intrigue, I couldn’t help but feel a lack of closure by the film’s end due to too much being left up in the air. As a viewer, you care about D as a character, but once the story concludes, the resolution feels a bit unfocused and fails to answer some pressing questions.
Despite Self Driver’s shortcomings, this is a solid feature from Pierro that shows much promise for the filmmaker’s future. His ability to create a simple yet relatable and gripping story that primarily takes place in one location on such a low budget is an impressive achievement.
Overall, Self Driver is a thrilling experience, and I do not doubt that this feature will be a festival hit.
Self Driver premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival on August 2-4, 2024.
