Cab driver D (Nathanael Chadwick) is a down-on-his-luck cab driver who is struggling to make ends meet. During his latest evening shift, D can’t hide his frustration with the people he has to deal with in the back of his car and his head is turned by a potentially lucrative new app. Initially reluctant to try the app, D decides to give it a go when he discovers he could make far more money than he currently does. As his first night on the job progresses, D realises that easy money is anything but as his morals are put to the test.
‘Self Driver’ is a low-budget film from writer and director Michael Pierro. In part a commentary on the rising cost of living (which is affecting everyone across the globe), the film sits somewhere between drama and thriller. D’s situation is set up in the film’s opening moments but we never really get to know too much about the character. When D makes the impulsive decision to try the new app, he soon finds out that if he doesn’t follow its instructions completely, he’ll be financially penalised.
His first pick-up seems relatively normally, even if he isn’t allowed to speak to any of his passengers, but as the night goes on things take a turn for the strange. With each new passenger, D is pushed to the limits of comfort and he has to decide what’s more important to him – doing the right thing or taking the money. As nothing is ever really explained in the film, it’s hard to understand why D allows himself to bear witness to the things that go on in his car, or why he would do some of the things he does. Perhaps it’s as simple as the idea that desperate people will do anything for money but that just doesn’t cut it here. D crosses the line without really thinking twice about it, and as we don’t know his character it’s hard to know how to feel about that.
Nathanael Chadwick carries the film squarely on his shoulders. He’s the only main character in the film and he’s the person the audience is expected to side with. That gets harder as D makes some questionable choices but Chadwick does a solid enough job in the role. When you have a character that isn’t fully developed, there’s only so much you can do. Given more material, and depth, I think Chadwick would have really had a chance to shine here.
‘Self Driver’ is an interesting idea but it really needed more development. It feels more like a hazy dream than a fully thought-out film and there’s no clear through line. Because we don’t know much about D or the app he signs up to, the majority of the film is left to the audience to decipher and that’s not going to sit well with everyone. Writer/director Pierro has some interesting ideas but they don’t really hit with the impact he likely wanted them to.
Cast: Nathanael Chadwick, Reece Presley, Lauren Welchner, Catt Filippov Director: Michael Pierro Writer: Michael Pierro Certificate: Unrated Duration: 90 mins Released by: Cinephobia Releasing Release date: 6th June 2025
