Following his feature-length directorial debut, Hummingbird, long-time writer Steven Knight directs again with a tense, witty, high-concept thriller set entirely inside a car.

Hardy is a magnetic presence, gripping the viewer despite the relative stasis of the setting, while at the other end of his phone the voice cast deliver impressive performances despite never being seen, creating visual spaces through their vivid descriptions.

An experienced writer, Knight’s terrific script creates believable characters and complex situations to maintain the drama and tension throughout, with tight editing ensuring the momentum is continually driving the narrative forward to an emotive conclusion.

A sensational film that demands to be seen, the double act of Knight’s dialogue and Hardy’s performance creates a taught, riveting thriller. A hidden gem of 2014, this is no car crash.

Rating: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott

DIRECTOR: Steven Knight

WRITER: Steven Knight

SYNOPSIS: Ivan Locke, a site manager for a construction company, abandons his job and drives to meet the woman having his child. Through a series of phone calls, his once solid life begins to crumble around him.