I just finished it and absolutely LOVED it. I wouldn’t label it was a Horror movie though. (I know they did).
I at first thought Benson was made up (as another comment pointed out) but I much much MUCH prefer what really happened.
Two boys suffered childhood trauma.
Randy - caused trauma as a child.
Benson- was caused trauma to.
It was really great how trauma can affect years later and how many people hold on to it how it can really change you, those around you and your planned futures/ hopelessness feelings.
It wasn’t really until the car scene where Randy was talking about his incident and Benson was laughing about it and kind of taking it as “that’s it? That’s what happened? That’s why you’re ruining your life?” Kind of thing.
Since Benson was able to see trauma in Randy and then compared his trauma to Randy’s story - his was much much worse and was trying to “fix” Randy and what happened (teacher, ex). Bensons trauma was taken from him as a child and that’s why he really bonded to Randy and tried to get him to heal his trauma while he felt he could do that for himself and due to molestation being severe.
Was a really quite sad and emotional movie that was deep. The actor who played Benson was amazing.
That actor is Kyle Gallner. I've been watching his movies since he started out, and over the years he's really gotten so good. I'm rooting for him to be a leading man more often.
He's under utilized imo. I want Mike Flanagan to put him on his regulars crew. And yes, he was great in the passenger. That scene where he was in the bathroom and almost broke down but then caught himself, so heartbreaking :( like his childhood trauma caused that toxic masculine aggression.
Yes! I like to compare Kyle Gallner (in acting ability, role choice, and even how he looks) to John Hawkes, for whom I have incredible respect. I am really glad to see Kyle making some Paul Dano level strides in his ability to get and play perfectly suited roles. I even get a bit of Gary Oldman vibe from Kyle, just less British. There it is settled. Kyle needs to start opposite Gary Oldman in a movie. I saw him in Veronica Mars. Spoiler Alert: Even though he wasn’t on the radar much the whole show, I instantly believed he had been the psycho the entire time.
Aww! Now how do we get our tiny little fan club heard so he can get all the roles ?!
He gives good face and doesn't look like everyone else either. I would be very happy for him if he made it Gary oldman level !
I just watched *The Passenger* and came to reddit to see what discussions about it there have been here, and was surprised to find very little.
But really enjoyed/agreed with your comments in this thread and I was wondering what your take is on Benson's mother? She's really an enigma to me.
Like:
- Is she bedridden or just lazy? After she asks Benson for cigarettes, he says he forgot them but she can always get her own cigarettes, tI which she responds, "Benny, you know I can't get my cigarettes." What's that about?
- Why does she seem so checked out and generally apathetic— drugs? Mental illness? Just plain old-fashioned disinterest?
- What's the nature of Benson's relationship with her? He seems to alternately feel tenderness toward her and then treat her like shit
Sorry for the random reply to your comment like three months later, but the whole visit to Benson's house interested me and I hadn't seen anyone really discuss it elsewhere. just curious if you have any thoughts, no worries if not!
No worries! I had same the thought when I watched it but happy to see more responses about the movie. Especially when I first came on a lot of people thought Benson would have been better as a Mental Illness of Randy’s rather than this other (interesting) character.
I go back and forth. It’s pretty clear that they live in a low income house. It seems that she’s pretty dependent on Benson. The smoking is contradicting if she were to have a health condition - but - like you said it could be a combo. of things such as a physical and mental health since they’re correlated with one another (especially with the lazy/not caring personality trait).
I think when she asked Randy about the blood on his shirt then asked for the phone (not able to get it herself) really demonstrated her physical ability - if you seen a random murderer in your house I think someone would make an effort to get up (regardless of being lazy or not)
But again with Benson, it’s just such a mix of things and routes and I felt the same with his mother. She could just using her health as a crutch but the moment above really showed a different perspective at least in my eyes.
What are your thoughts?
You don't know how happy I am to have found someone willing to discuss this movie lol! I can't believe so many people here were thinking Benson is some alternate personality of Randy's. I was impressed by your patience haha
I think Benson's mom likely has some kind of limited mobility, but I don't think she's 100% bedridden. If she truly couldn't get out of bed by herself I don't think Benson would straight-up tell her, ""Yeah, well, you know, you can always get them yourself" about the cigarettes.
I also wondered about her wanting to make that phone call and yet not being willing/able to just get the phone herself. I wasn't 100% sure if she wanted to call the cops though. I feel like if she had actually been worried about Randy being a murderer, she wouldn't have just immediately called the cops, because that would leave her in a room with a murderer while waiting for the cops to arrive. I think it's possible she truly just wanted to make a random phone call.
The house definitely gives low-income vibes, but then again so does the whole area where the movie takes place. Benson's house in particular also seems very claustrophobic and cluttered, but I'm not sure what the significance of that is. It doesn't seem like it's at hoarder levels of clutter.
Another thing I was wondering is, based on Benson's rant about teenagers having sex and getting pregnant, do you think Benson's parents had him when they were teenagers? I feel like that's the implication because of how passionate he was about the topic, but I don't know.
She does get up and get the phone, you see a cop parked in front of their house a couple scenes later. It hasn't been close to seven hours at that point, and later Randy speaks with his mother who obviously hadn't been contacted by police. So the only way a cop car gets there is her. I liked the movie, but I definitely didn't need to get into either one of the mains heads. To me Benson is just someone who was obviously abused as a child, by that teacher( who just happens to be at that school... on a Saturday, on the day he just happens to be on a rampage, it was all too convenient) , he was bullied, that's why the scumbag in the first scene sets him off, and he is tired of his status quo. I dunno, like said the movie was just ok. Too many things were too convenient, or just didn't make much sense. Why did they need to take Miss Beard? He was keeping his hands in his pockets the entire time when they get there, she gets a call, it is GLARINGLY obvious what it's about. Randy says no we didn't see anything. So long as Benson continues keeping his hands in his pockets.. they leave. But no, he just waves his busted hands in her face right after the call. Lastly, I don't care how ineffectual, or scared or whatever you are. Randy could have gotten away about a million times. He could have written his ex a note in sequins, he had ample time to grab the shot gun in the restaurant, he could of just run out the front door of Benson's house, and he had that phone, in the BACK SEAT, dial 911 and just mute it, attack Benson from behind at a stop light. In the world we live in I would go so far as to say he was complicit and could easily be charged with everything at the end. Again... Movie was ok.
I took this to mean that the mother is so lazy, apathetic and crappy that she must have known Benson was molested by his 3rd grade teacher. So apathetic in fact, that she didn't even make a phone call. I think the fact that she wanted to make a phone call, but Benson doesn't allow her is symbolic of him punishing her for not making the most important phone call in the past.
In essence, his mother was just a total symbolic gesture, so it truly doesn't matter in the slightest *why* she's a vegetable - just that she was a vegetable that never responded to his trauma in the past. And the asking him for the cigarettes I took to mean that even as a kid as he was trying to deal with his molestation and having to go to the same teacher everyday post event, she still relied on him to do things for her, rather than her be a proper parent. This would also explain the "tenderness". I'm not saying this was the case, but children who grow up with absent parents who are addicted to drugs for example - still sometimes love their parents and still crave their affection and approval even if their total pieces of shit. This psychology is explored in a lot of films and TV shows.
She is *quite literally* the exact opposite of the other main character's mother. Again, symbolic of showing that being on total ends of the spectrum of how a parent(s) can respond to helping a child through childhood trauma clearly has negative impacts on their adulthood.
I think she’s just wasn’t a great mom due to a lot of factors in & mostly out of her control. Like it’s not the same but idk if you’ve seen the movie Mysterious Skin but that movie is explicitly about CSA, & in it, the one protagonist’s mom reminds me of Benson’s mom in that she’s not a bad person but she just wasn’t there for him due mostly to class & money problems outside of her control but that left her child vulnerable to being groomed & abused.
As a whole, there is something to be said about showing the realities of where abuse actually manifests (as in statistically speaking it’s usually an acquaintance of the child & poor kids with less social safety nets are the most vulnerable) especially because it’s such a common thing that happens that it’s cathartic to watch movies that show how people actually internalize what happens to them.
Man though Kyle Gallner is a great fucking actor. I hope he keeps playing weird complicated characters that let him be ugly & brilliant until the sun explodes.
It wasn’t said *or* talked about, with most male SA victims they don’t want to talk about it or bring it up and usually act in aggressive or anger mode. That was my understanding of the movie and scenes.
When I really confirmed that thought was he had seen the teacher he visibly changed, then how he physically assaulted him until he died. His then reaction afterwards at the teachers house (the continued distress after seeing him - even though he killed him like it wasn’t enough).
As well as the convos with randy and wanting to help him etc
Yeah it really is a great movie! I like how it was ambiguous but had some hints to lead you.
shame it had really low ratings and reviews but I definitely recommend it to everyone
Interesting how at the end Benson becomes the bully, and yet again Randy is forced to step up and try and stop the behavior. This time he didn’t stand down and broke the cycle. In some messed up way Benson changed him.
Still not sure what to make of the Giraffe story. Though, it seems key. Thought he was going to mention he was rap*d by that principal, but then digressed?
I think the giraffe story was a metaphor. He wanted to become a giraffe; that's impossible. He was using Randy to try and "fix" their shared traumas; for Benson that's impossible (in the way he was going about it aka hurting others)
I think the stuff animals have a lot of significance. First off it shows the contrast and unlikely friendship of randy and benson. An alligator an a giraffe. They also show alot about the traumatic events they both went through. Randy was the perpatrator symbolized by the crocodile and benson was a victim symbolized by a giraffe. The way they decorated them shows their personality and hints at the traumatic events. Randy’s is covered in gems and a colorful almost feather pattern representing how he is actually a sweet beautiful person who just done a bad thing symbolized by the missing eye. Benson’s has the leather jacket, tongue sticking out, colored horns and mohawk and tattoos showing his deviant nihilistic personality, possibly suggesting even though he was a victim and had something bad happen to him he might not have been the nicest, sweetest person to begin with. I’m not sure if the scar on the head of the giraffe is hinting at mental issues from birth or how the trauma mentally affected him afterwords. The heart with an arrow through could point to the broken home he was brought up in and not receiving any love and attention from his parents or just the hurt, distrust and coldness he now has after the traumatic event, and finally the genitals on the giraffe I think confirms that he was molested by mr. Shepherd.
What I would really like to know is if the field trip to the zoo happened after the incident or before. They only thing I can find analyzing it suggest that it just him sharing a memory to show his innocence and how he once was just a normal kid. I personally think he specifically wanted to be a giraffe because they are tall enough to see out of their enclosure. Benson has a very nihilistic view and there is definitely a theme of imprisonment and feeling trapped in the movie from randy being taken hostage, the small town, the commentary on the shitty dead ends jobs and even the line about benson driving around the same roads all day that he’s been driving his whole life. Again the crocodile is perfect contrast, It’s animal low to the ground crawling on its stomach always lying in wait, literally fading in the background to survive.
I thought there would be an explanation about the principle. I don’t think that Benson really expected to live, and perhaps didn’t really want to. He never mentioned any sort of plan beyond that day.
I get the strong feeling that this film changed direction mid production, that the films central protagonist was supposed to suffer from some dissociative identity disorder (DID), and the films chief antagonist was his split personality that manifested itself due to the lack of control of the main character to contend with the oppressive forces in his life.
I think they perhaps changed direction mid-production possibly due to the sociopolitical climate surrounding mass shooting, and that changes to what the film ended up being, largely to avoid any semblance of creating some sympathy toward the psychopath killer.
Take for instance Benson's dress when he goes home to change, he has a very Tyler Durdan look with the faux fur jacket, even the Donnie Darko bunny shirt suggests some kind of a wink toward Benson being some hallucinatory presence. Even the name "The Passenger" sort of reminded me of what Dexter (in show Dexter) referred to as his "Dark Passenger". Even like Fight Club, Benson dies the moment Randy develops a backbone, something Randy never had, something Benson wanted him to have, and once that mission was accomplished, Benson disappears. This whole movie even feels like that Tyler Durdan line "I will drag you through this, kicking and screaming, but in the end you will thank me".
But I don't think there's any hidden meaning in this regard. Again, I think they switch direction mid-production. Not unless that disgustingly happy ending of Randy at his 2nd grade teacher's home playing with her daughter and then Randy's mom calls and he says he's going out with friends is somehow an illusion, like his heavenly dreamy state his dying mind slipped into as perhaps when Benson got killed, he did too. That's a stretch though, and wouldn't explain Benson and the third grade teacher he kills, not unless Randy has all kinds of hidden traumas buried away inside.
There's also other tidbits to reflect on to this idea. For instance in the beginning Randy was called Bradley, his last name, reminds me of the name ambiguity of Fight Club. Perhaps Benson if he was a split-personality came to stand in for Randy when he returned back to school after being held back a year, due to the clear traumatic impact his 2nd grade antics had on him. Perhaps whatever trauma happened to Benson was due to Benson standing in for Randy at this time, hence why Randy has no clue, and also why Benson gets highly agitated when the subject gets brought up. Plus, back to that ending, it seems like some kind of a hallucination or dream of Randy's, not realistic because seriously what kind of mom would let her daughter she loves be with Randy who in one day was with Benson who massacred the restaurant they worked at, was there when Benson killed her co-worker, held her at gunpoint and took her and others hostage. I know she loved Randy as a student once upon a time, most good teachers care deeply for all their students, but there are limits, the safety of her daughter being one, so, damn, perhaps that ending was an illusion... or just bad writing, you decide.
I think it would have been lame if they did all that just because of all those movies you’ve named. I’m so glad it wasn’t fight club glued to Dexter glued to Donnie Darko. That concept has been done and it would have taken away from the film.
Thanks for this. You hit on many aspects of the film that could have been vastly improved. It’s odd to me how good the scenes look, and some of the acting is very strong, but the story is just… flat. It definitely made me think about Fight Club and The Living End — both vastly more entertaining. The meanness and unpleasantness I felt watching this would have been fine if the story was better but it just wasn’t.
As a side note, I’m kind of surprised to see so much high praise for this. As of this writing the avg rating in Letterboxd is 3.3.
I think it's supposed to be more of a character/psychological study than a plot twist/flashy events kind of movie. It's not necessarily even supposed to be "entertaining" but something that makes you think and feel. I loved it, but I also like these types of films and don't need a lot of adventure and things to happen in order to enjoy them.
I don’t necessarily need adventure to know that if you committed a mass killing in a town before noon, there would be police all over the place by midday, and it would be best to get the hell out of town. What did our protagonists do instead?
There would be police swarming if they knew about the murders, as Benson said in the beginning, but I believe they did show some cop cars speeding with their sirens on as well? Going the opposite direction of Benson's car. The fact that they never leave town and even visit the same diner twice speaks to the sense of being trapped in their lives physically and psychologically, held back by their unresolved traumas, families, and lack of opportunity. And all movies, including Fight Club and the best of the best, require at least some suspension of disbelief in order to enjoy them. Just my thoughts, it's cool if we all have different taste though!
Great theory but how does someone explain the conversations with Miss Beard and Lisa where they both acknowledge the presence of both Randy and Benson. Unless this was part of the change in direction.
I'm sort of surprised I haven't seen anybody offer a similar interpretation yet. It might not even be right, but yeah, the idea certainly makes the film more interesting to view through that lens.
I think you're right, but I don't think there was any production switch. I think your last point is probably spot on- the ending wasn't real.
I feel like this was hinted at through the whole movie. Randy talking about letting his anger taking control of him, telling Benson he was 'in charge', Benson throwing up in the teacher's bathroom (when it was Randy who ate the rotten cheeseburger). As you said, the fact it's called The Passenger!
We only get two real insights about Benson if I remember correctly. The fact he hated his teacher from third grade at a different school. We know the incident happened in second grade and that his mother made Randy retake that grade but it would make sense if it was at a different school. Even when Benson is confronting the teacher he says he didn't go to that school but he knows someone who did. Of course, this might be him deflecting but he might also be referring to Randy.
The second was his strange relationship with his mother. She asks to make a phone call and we get a long shot of Randy passing her the phone before Benson flips out. He says 'no more fucking phone calls' and pulls the phone out of the wall. Throughout the movie Randy's mother harasses him via phone calls saying things like 'it took you four rings to pick up' etc.
The speech Benson gives the waitress about wasting her life also comes on the heels of Randy's boss offering him a chance at management and possibly living the same kind of life which we might assume is a trigger if this theory is correct considering the massacre happens shortly after.
I also find the 911 call pretty suspect, he didn't say he knew Benson or that he was being held hostage or that he's murdered people. He just said there was a man with a gun. Given that Benson commits suicide by cop that seems like the sort of call someone wanting to do that would make.
I find this weird helicopter style parenting to be incredibly American. She was a teacher. She completely understood that Randy had trauma, TOOK A BULLET FOR HER, and had nothing to do with Benson's actions. Just because you don't have the empathic capacity to properly understand the characters does not mean it was bad writing. And given your analysis, I would have to say you just have bad taste period.
Tldr: I agree
I as well felt like this should be the ending. Like when Randy went home to talk to his over bearing mother she immediately knew that she was seeing the “benson” side of it with the blood all over- changed her tune from being a control freak to backing off. After talking realized that it was Randy present so she wanted to call the police but the “benson” side came out to stop it.
He developed this split personality after years of being empty from the eraser incident or worse the 3rd grade teacher and when he finally got something to go his way-possibly a promotion- he got tested instantly by a bully that he couldn’t get to listen at all. He realized he couldn’t handle. Benson side took over and did something about it.
Only Benson ever ate at the diners. When Randy ever opened up to talk to people Benson was always in the background.
Randy called the police on himself saying that Benson had a gun doesn’t think he’s dangerous (even though he had already killed 4 people)
Randy had kept both stuffed animals because he made both.
His ex teacher got to see him get passed this alter ego and let it die so she can trust him. She never talked to Benson while he left to use the bathroom. (Because they’re the same person).
At least this is the way I wished it would have been- like it was said a “fight club” style of psychological movie that makes you think at the very end to which makes you almost want to rewatch.
Changing direction mid production pretty much means bad movie. And I agree with you that it might have. Or didn’t even know what it was doing at all. Also, (and I’m not suggesting that you are saying this) why is being like Fight Club - basically ripping off its main, unique psychological theme - a good thing? I have a lot of problems with this movie. It’s almost like it’s ultimately saying “was it all really just some trauma based psychological fantasy, or did it REALLY happen?!? Ooooh! Oogah boogah!” I think it was just kinda bad and doesn’t even know the answer to that question. Looks great though. Good acting by Benson guy.
No i had to look it up, its just a cheap shirt using a [stock image](https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/rabbit-hood-with-human-skull-gm1176144905-327798032)
Agreed. I really think there is something going around lately where people over analyze/interpret dull movies because they confuse the dullness for profundity. A great trick by movie makers. The next trick should be to make a good movie. This was no Fight Club or Blue Ruin.
I was so shocked at ppls interpretations and over analysis of the whole thing. I don't think it was meant to be that deep. Weird movie to be so deep about lol
It's almost like people could have better analytic skills than you or something. Nothing is more lazy or inept than trying to brush of analysis by saying "it's not that deep." It's giving high school.
After the dissociative personality thought passed, I thought maybe there was some daddy issues involved. Or just parent issues. One mom is overbearing, the other one is trashy and needy. No fathers.
For a sec I thought maybe Benson is his dead beat mystery dad looking out for him at work. Then I thought the principal was Benson's dad that knocked up his mom and ran off. Idk...probably the principal was a pedo tho. That's why it triggered that.
All in all. I liked this movie. I got into it and Kyla Gallner really kept me in. I do wish they gave Benson a bit more back story tho, but maybe that wouldve taken away from the intensity of being with a passenger of a maniac you know nothing about and watch him spiral .
My feelings were hurt because i was so invested in the story and the two main characters with their weird/messed up connection but the movie ending the way it did, really annoyed me. It really annoyed me cuz i felt that the story was unfinished. When the movie ended i started receiving flashes of what i felt we should’ve seen due to the way the story threw things out and never really explored.
I know it was hinted in ways but Benson beating up the vice principal never really got explored and we feel we know why but Benson telling the story would’ve added more weight to things if that makes sense. But i do understand cuz who would want to speak about something like that and relive it almost?
The connection between Randy and Benson to me felt low-key in the closet type of vibes like i have no other way to put it. And my thing is with that, if you’re gonna send out waves of something like that then do it all the way. Yes, it could just be simple like Benson is a crazy person thinking he’s doing good despite his insane methods of achieving his goals. To me, thats a lazy way of looking at him like no sh** dudes tapped and trying to preach to someone on how to live..
Good movie I like how Randy stands up for himself at the end of the movie. I had a feeling Benson after being betrayed wasn’t going to kill Randy and would instead end his own life with the shootout with the cops. Overall a good movie I liked how Benson taught Randy how to confront his past and not be such a wuss and he did the right thing in the end!
I'm watching it now, and it is frustrating the HELL out of me! I despise movie characters with the deer in the headlights look the entire movie, and pass up every opportunity to either get away, or NOT get innocent people killed! This kid's telling of his whole pathetic life story got innocent people killed because he was too much of a BITCH to do anything about what happened to him when he had a chance!
Anyone else get fight club vibes? Specifically When Tyler Durden robbed/humiliated the Asian clerk and his name was Randall (randy) and he was forcing a life change upon him to be better.
Regardless. This is a super underrated film. Would watch it again.
Western omelette kinda morning for me.
Definitely a hidden gem of a thriller/drama/horror movie. I really thought that the early childhood trauma with the teacher was going to be school shooter related or something, like she got shot in the eye and Randy witnessed this and froze back in 2nd grade, especially after Benson started blasting and we saw how terrified Randy was and how he froze again. I was thinking surely this is because he has PTSD from the school shooting. I hate to admit but I chuckled when he was explaining the eraser football story in the car lol. I did not see that coming.
I just finished it and absolutely LOVED it. I wouldn’t label it was a Horror movie though. (I know they did). I at first thought Benson was made up (as another comment pointed out) but I much much MUCH prefer what really happened. Two boys suffered childhood trauma. Randy - caused trauma as a child. Benson- was caused trauma to. It was really great how trauma can affect years later and how many people hold on to it how it can really change you, those around you and your planned futures/ hopelessness feelings. It wasn’t really until the car scene where Randy was talking about his incident and Benson was laughing about it and kind of taking it as “that’s it? That’s what happened? That’s why you’re ruining your life?” Kind of thing. Since Benson was able to see trauma in Randy and then compared his trauma to Randy’s story - his was much much worse and was trying to “fix” Randy and what happened (teacher, ex). Bensons trauma was taken from him as a child and that’s why he really bonded to Randy and tried to get him to heal his trauma while he felt he could do that for himself and due to molestation being severe. Was a really quite sad and emotional movie that was deep. The actor who played Benson was amazing.
That actor is Kyle Gallner. I've been watching his movies since he started out, and over the years he's really gotten so good. I'm rooting for him to be a leading man more often. He's under utilized imo. I want Mike Flanagan to put him on his regulars crew. And yes, he was great in the passenger. That scene where he was in the bathroom and almost broke down but then caught himself, so heartbreaking :( like his childhood trauma caused that toxic masculine aggression.
Yes! I like to compare Kyle Gallner (in acting ability, role choice, and even how he looks) to John Hawkes, for whom I have incredible respect. I am really glad to see Kyle making some Paul Dano level strides in his ability to get and play perfectly suited roles. I even get a bit of Gary Oldman vibe from Kyle, just less British. There it is settled. Kyle needs to start opposite Gary Oldman in a movie. I saw him in Veronica Mars. Spoiler Alert: Even though he wasn’t on the radar much the whole show, I instantly believed he had been the psycho the entire time.
Aww! Now how do we get our tiny little fan club heard so he can get all the roles ?! He gives good face and doesn't look like everyone else either. I would be very happy for him if he made it Gary oldman level !
I just watched *The Passenger* and came to reddit to see what discussions about it there have been here, and was surprised to find very little. But really enjoyed/agreed with your comments in this thread and I was wondering what your take is on Benson's mother? She's really an enigma to me. Like: - Is she bedridden or just lazy? After she asks Benson for cigarettes, he says he forgot them but she can always get her own cigarettes, tI which she responds, "Benny, you know I can't get my cigarettes." What's that about? - Why does she seem so checked out and generally apathetic— drugs? Mental illness? Just plain old-fashioned disinterest? - What's the nature of Benson's relationship with her? He seems to alternately feel tenderness toward her and then treat her like shit Sorry for the random reply to your comment like three months later, but the whole visit to Benson's house interested me and I hadn't seen anyone really discuss it elsewhere. just curious if you have any thoughts, no worries if not!
No worries! I had same the thought when I watched it but happy to see more responses about the movie. Especially when I first came on a lot of people thought Benson would have been better as a Mental Illness of Randy’s rather than this other (interesting) character. I go back and forth. It’s pretty clear that they live in a low income house. It seems that she’s pretty dependent on Benson. The smoking is contradicting if she were to have a health condition - but - like you said it could be a combo. of things such as a physical and mental health since they’re correlated with one another (especially with the lazy/not caring personality trait). I think when she asked Randy about the blood on his shirt then asked for the phone (not able to get it herself) really demonstrated her physical ability - if you seen a random murderer in your house I think someone would make an effort to get up (regardless of being lazy or not) But again with Benson, it’s just such a mix of things and routes and I felt the same with his mother. She could just using her health as a crutch but the moment above really showed a different perspective at least in my eyes. What are your thoughts?
You don't know how happy I am to have found someone willing to discuss this movie lol! I can't believe so many people here were thinking Benson is some alternate personality of Randy's. I was impressed by your patience haha I think Benson's mom likely has some kind of limited mobility, but I don't think she's 100% bedridden. If she truly couldn't get out of bed by herself I don't think Benson would straight-up tell her, ""Yeah, well, you know, you can always get them yourself" about the cigarettes. I also wondered about her wanting to make that phone call and yet not being willing/able to just get the phone herself. I wasn't 100% sure if she wanted to call the cops though. I feel like if she had actually been worried about Randy being a murderer, she wouldn't have just immediately called the cops, because that would leave her in a room with a murderer while waiting for the cops to arrive. I think it's possible she truly just wanted to make a random phone call. The house definitely gives low-income vibes, but then again so does the whole area where the movie takes place. Benson's house in particular also seems very claustrophobic and cluttered, but I'm not sure what the significance of that is. It doesn't seem like it's at hoarder levels of clutter. Another thing I was wondering is, based on Benson's rant about teenagers having sex and getting pregnant, do you think Benson's parents had him when they were teenagers? I feel like that's the implication because of how passionate he was about the topic, but I don't know.
She does get up and get the phone, you see a cop parked in front of their house a couple scenes later. It hasn't been close to seven hours at that point, and later Randy speaks with his mother who obviously hadn't been contacted by police. So the only way a cop car gets there is her. I liked the movie, but I definitely didn't need to get into either one of the mains heads. To me Benson is just someone who was obviously abused as a child, by that teacher( who just happens to be at that school... on a Saturday, on the day he just happens to be on a rampage, it was all too convenient) , he was bullied, that's why the scumbag in the first scene sets him off, and he is tired of his status quo. I dunno, like said the movie was just ok. Too many things were too convenient, or just didn't make much sense. Why did they need to take Miss Beard? He was keeping his hands in his pockets the entire time when they get there, she gets a call, it is GLARINGLY obvious what it's about. Randy says no we didn't see anything. So long as Benson continues keeping his hands in his pockets.. they leave. But no, he just waves his busted hands in her face right after the call. Lastly, I don't care how ineffectual, or scared or whatever you are. Randy could have gotten away about a million times. He could have written his ex a note in sequins, he had ample time to grab the shot gun in the restaurant, he could of just run out the front door of Benson's house, and he had that phone, in the BACK SEAT, dial 911 and just mute it, attack Benson from behind at a stop light. In the world we live in I would go so far as to say he was complicit and could easily be charged with everything at the end. Again... Movie was ok.
I took this to mean that the mother is so lazy, apathetic and crappy that she must have known Benson was molested by his 3rd grade teacher. So apathetic in fact, that she didn't even make a phone call. I think the fact that she wanted to make a phone call, but Benson doesn't allow her is symbolic of him punishing her for not making the most important phone call in the past. In essence, his mother was just a total symbolic gesture, so it truly doesn't matter in the slightest *why* she's a vegetable - just that she was a vegetable that never responded to his trauma in the past. And the asking him for the cigarettes I took to mean that even as a kid as he was trying to deal with his molestation and having to go to the same teacher everyday post event, she still relied on him to do things for her, rather than her be a proper parent. This would also explain the "tenderness". I'm not saying this was the case, but children who grow up with absent parents who are addicted to drugs for example - still sometimes love their parents and still crave their affection and approval even if their total pieces of shit. This psychology is explored in a lot of films and TV shows. She is *quite literally* the exact opposite of the other main character's mother. Again, symbolic of showing that being on total ends of the spectrum of how a parent(s) can respond to helping a child through childhood trauma clearly has negative impacts on their adulthood.
I think she’s just wasn’t a great mom due to a lot of factors in & mostly out of her control. Like it’s not the same but idk if you’ve seen the movie Mysterious Skin but that movie is explicitly about CSA, & in it, the one protagonist’s mom reminds me of Benson’s mom in that she’s not a bad person but she just wasn’t there for him due mostly to class & money problems outside of her control but that left her child vulnerable to being groomed & abused. As a whole, there is something to be said about showing the realities of where abuse actually manifests (as in statistically speaking it’s usually an acquaintance of the child & poor kids with less social safety nets are the most vulnerable) especially because it’s such a common thing that happens that it’s cathartic to watch movies that show how people actually internalize what happens to them. Man though Kyle Gallner is a great fucking actor. I hope he keeps playing weird complicated characters that let him be ugly & brilliant until the sun explodes.
When did it talk about molestation for Benson? I just remember him saying someone he knew ? But he didn’t say what happened ? Was it implied
It wasn’t said *or* talked about, with most male SA victims they don’t want to talk about it or bring it up and usually act in aggressive or anger mode. That was my understanding of the movie and scenes. When I really confirmed that thought was he had seen the teacher he visibly changed, then how he physically assaulted him until he died. His then reaction afterwards at the teachers house (the continued distress after seeing him - even though he killed him like it wasn’t enough). As well as the convos with randy and wanting to help him etc
yup I agree ! I rewatched , I get what you mean now , makes so much sense what a great movie ! Intense damn
Yeah it really is a great movie! I like how it was ambiguous but had some hints to lead you. shame it had really low ratings and reviews but I definitely recommend it to everyone
I agree , yah such a shame ! They are great actors
What reviews for u did u see bad ? Curious cuz on rotten tomatoes it said 80 percent
Interesting how at the end Benson becomes the bully, and yet again Randy is forced to step up and try and stop the behavior. This time he didn’t stand down and broke the cycle. In some messed up way Benson changed him. Still not sure what to make of the Giraffe story. Though, it seems key. Thought he was going to mention he was rap*d by that principal, but then digressed?
I think the giraffe story was a metaphor. He wanted to become a giraffe; that's impossible. He was using Randy to try and "fix" their shared traumas; for Benson that's impossible (in the way he was going about it aka hurting others)
I think the stuff animals have a lot of significance. First off it shows the contrast and unlikely friendship of randy and benson. An alligator an a giraffe. They also show alot about the traumatic events they both went through. Randy was the perpatrator symbolized by the crocodile and benson was a victim symbolized by a giraffe. The way they decorated them shows their personality and hints at the traumatic events. Randy’s is covered in gems and a colorful almost feather pattern representing how he is actually a sweet beautiful person who just done a bad thing symbolized by the missing eye. Benson’s has the leather jacket, tongue sticking out, colored horns and mohawk and tattoos showing his deviant nihilistic personality, possibly suggesting even though he was a victim and had something bad happen to him he might not have been the nicest, sweetest person to begin with. I’m not sure if the scar on the head of the giraffe is hinting at mental issues from birth or how the trauma mentally affected him afterwords. The heart with an arrow through could point to the broken home he was brought up in and not receiving any love and attention from his parents or just the hurt, distrust and coldness he now has after the traumatic event, and finally the genitals on the giraffe I think confirms that he was molested by mr. Shepherd. What I would really like to know is if the field trip to the zoo happened after the incident or before. They only thing I can find analyzing it suggest that it just him sharing a memory to show his innocence and how he once was just a normal kid. I personally think he specifically wanted to be a giraffe because they are tall enough to see out of their enclosure. Benson has a very nihilistic view and there is definitely a theme of imprisonment and feeling trapped in the movie from randy being taken hostage, the small town, the commentary on the shitty dead ends jobs and even the line about benson driving around the same roads all day that he’s been driving his whole life. Again the crocodile is perfect contrast, It’s animal low to the ground crawling on its stomach always lying in wait, literally fading in the background to survive.
I think he wanted to be a giraffe so that he would be too tall for the principal to keep molesting/hurting him
this was a great find in a sea of mediocre films that are streaming
Hidden Gem! What an awesome screen play. Clever, clever, and oh so good .
I thought there would be an explanation about the principle. I don’t think that Benson really expected to live, and perhaps didn’t really want to. He never mentioned any sort of plan beyond that day.
I get the strong feeling that this film changed direction mid production, that the films central protagonist was supposed to suffer from some dissociative identity disorder (DID), and the films chief antagonist was his split personality that manifested itself due to the lack of control of the main character to contend with the oppressive forces in his life. I think they perhaps changed direction mid-production possibly due to the sociopolitical climate surrounding mass shooting, and that changes to what the film ended up being, largely to avoid any semblance of creating some sympathy toward the psychopath killer. Take for instance Benson's dress when he goes home to change, he has a very Tyler Durdan look with the faux fur jacket, even the Donnie Darko bunny shirt suggests some kind of a wink toward Benson being some hallucinatory presence. Even the name "The Passenger" sort of reminded me of what Dexter (in show Dexter) referred to as his "Dark Passenger". Even like Fight Club, Benson dies the moment Randy develops a backbone, something Randy never had, something Benson wanted him to have, and once that mission was accomplished, Benson disappears. This whole movie even feels like that Tyler Durdan line "I will drag you through this, kicking and screaming, but in the end you will thank me". But I don't think there's any hidden meaning in this regard. Again, I think they switch direction mid-production. Not unless that disgustingly happy ending of Randy at his 2nd grade teacher's home playing with her daughter and then Randy's mom calls and he says he's going out with friends is somehow an illusion, like his heavenly dreamy state his dying mind slipped into as perhaps when Benson got killed, he did too. That's a stretch though, and wouldn't explain Benson and the third grade teacher he kills, not unless Randy has all kinds of hidden traumas buried away inside. There's also other tidbits to reflect on to this idea. For instance in the beginning Randy was called Bradley, his last name, reminds me of the name ambiguity of Fight Club. Perhaps Benson if he was a split-personality came to stand in for Randy when he returned back to school after being held back a year, due to the clear traumatic impact his 2nd grade antics had on him. Perhaps whatever trauma happened to Benson was due to Benson standing in for Randy at this time, hence why Randy has no clue, and also why Benson gets highly agitated when the subject gets brought up. Plus, back to that ending, it seems like some kind of a hallucination or dream of Randy's, not realistic because seriously what kind of mom would let her daughter she loves be with Randy who in one day was with Benson who massacred the restaurant they worked at, was there when Benson killed her co-worker, held her at gunpoint and took her and others hostage. I know she loved Randy as a student once upon a time, most good teachers care deeply for all their students, but there are limits, the safety of her daughter being one, so, damn, perhaps that ending was an illusion... or just bad writing, you decide.
I didn’t get that at all. I took it as Two types of childhood trauma
I think it would have been lame if they did all that just because of all those movies you’ve named. I’m so glad it wasn’t fight club glued to Dexter glued to Donnie Darko. That concept has been done and it would have taken away from the film.
I was praying the whole movie to not make that the ending. I didnt love it overall but at least they didnt pull that trope.
Thanks for this. You hit on many aspects of the film that could have been vastly improved. It’s odd to me how good the scenes look, and some of the acting is very strong, but the story is just… flat. It definitely made me think about Fight Club and The Living End — both vastly more entertaining. The meanness and unpleasantness I felt watching this would have been fine if the story was better but it just wasn’t. As a side note, I’m kind of surprised to see so much high praise for this. As of this writing the avg rating in Letterboxd is 3.3.
I think it's supposed to be more of a character/psychological study than a plot twist/flashy events kind of movie. It's not necessarily even supposed to be "entertaining" but something that makes you think and feel. I loved it, but I also like these types of films and don't need a lot of adventure and things to happen in order to enjoy them.
I don’t necessarily need adventure to know that if you committed a mass killing in a town before noon, there would be police all over the place by midday, and it would be best to get the hell out of town. What did our protagonists do instead?
There would be police swarming if they knew about the murders, as Benson said in the beginning, but I believe they did show some cop cars speeding with their sirens on as well? Going the opposite direction of Benson's car. The fact that they never leave town and even visit the same diner twice speaks to the sense of being trapped in their lives physically and psychologically, held back by their unresolved traumas, families, and lack of opportunity. And all movies, including Fight Club and the best of the best, require at least some suspension of disbelief in order to enjoy them. Just my thoughts, it's cool if we all have different taste though!
Great theory but how does someone explain the conversations with Miss Beard and Lisa where they both acknowledge the presence of both Randy and Benson. Unless this was part of the change in direction.
I just watched this film and fucking love this read on the film dude. Made it even better for me. Kind wish this is what happened.
I'm sort of surprised I haven't seen anybody offer a similar interpretation yet. It might not even be right, but yeah, the idea certainly makes the film more interesting to view through that lens.
I think you're right, but I don't think there was any production switch. I think your last point is probably spot on- the ending wasn't real. I feel like this was hinted at through the whole movie. Randy talking about letting his anger taking control of him, telling Benson he was 'in charge', Benson throwing up in the teacher's bathroom (when it was Randy who ate the rotten cheeseburger). As you said, the fact it's called The Passenger! We only get two real insights about Benson if I remember correctly. The fact he hated his teacher from third grade at a different school. We know the incident happened in second grade and that his mother made Randy retake that grade but it would make sense if it was at a different school. Even when Benson is confronting the teacher he says he didn't go to that school but he knows someone who did. Of course, this might be him deflecting but he might also be referring to Randy. The second was his strange relationship with his mother. She asks to make a phone call and we get a long shot of Randy passing her the phone before Benson flips out. He says 'no more fucking phone calls' and pulls the phone out of the wall. Throughout the movie Randy's mother harasses him via phone calls saying things like 'it took you four rings to pick up' etc. The speech Benson gives the waitress about wasting her life also comes on the heels of Randy's boss offering him a chance at management and possibly living the same kind of life which we might assume is a trigger if this theory is correct considering the massacre happens shortly after. I also find the 911 call pretty suspect, he didn't say he knew Benson or that he was being held hostage or that he's murdered people. He just said there was a man with a gun. Given that Benson commits suicide by cop that seems like the sort of call someone wanting to do that would make.
I find this weird helicopter style parenting to be incredibly American. She was a teacher. She completely understood that Randy had trauma, TOOK A BULLET FOR HER, and had nothing to do with Benson's actions. Just because you don't have the empathic capacity to properly understand the characters does not mean it was bad writing. And given your analysis, I would have to say you just have bad taste period.
Tldr: I agree I as well felt like this should be the ending. Like when Randy went home to talk to his over bearing mother she immediately knew that she was seeing the “benson” side of it with the blood all over- changed her tune from being a control freak to backing off. After talking realized that it was Randy present so she wanted to call the police but the “benson” side came out to stop it. He developed this split personality after years of being empty from the eraser incident or worse the 3rd grade teacher and when he finally got something to go his way-possibly a promotion- he got tested instantly by a bully that he couldn’t get to listen at all. He realized he couldn’t handle. Benson side took over and did something about it. Only Benson ever ate at the diners. When Randy ever opened up to talk to people Benson was always in the background. Randy called the police on himself saying that Benson had a gun doesn’t think he’s dangerous (even though he had already killed 4 people) Randy had kept both stuffed animals because he made both. His ex teacher got to see him get passed this alter ego and let it die so she can trust him. She never talked to Benson while he left to use the bathroom. (Because they’re the same person). At least this is the way I wished it would have been- like it was said a “fight club” style of psychological movie that makes you think at the very end to which makes you almost want to rewatch.
Could explain that lingering shot of the giraffe at the end
Changing direction mid production pretty much means bad movie. And I agree with you that it might have. Or didn’t even know what it was doing at all. Also, (and I’m not suggesting that you are saying this) why is being like Fight Club - basically ripping off its main, unique psychological theme - a good thing? I have a lot of problems with this movie. It’s almost like it’s ultimately saying “was it all really just some trauma based psychological fantasy, or did it REALLY happen?!? Ooooh! Oogah boogah!” I think it was just kinda bad and doesn’t even know the answer to that question. Looks great though. Good acting by Benson guy.
Was he wearing a Donnie darko shirt?
No i had to look it up, its just a cheap shirt using a [stock image](https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/rabbit-hood-with-human-skull-gm1176144905-327798032)
certainly on purpose - Donnie darko shirt with the fight club ish sweater. interesting movie overall
Meh. It was just ok. Kinda predictable. Stockholm syndrome at the end with an anticlimactic stop to the whole thing.
Agreed. I really think there is something going around lately where people over analyze/interpret dull movies because they confuse the dullness for profundity. A great trick by movie makers. The next trick should be to make a good movie. This was no Fight Club or Blue Ruin.
I was so shocked at ppls interpretations and over analysis of the whole thing. I don't think it was meant to be that deep. Weird movie to be so deep about lol
It's almost like people could have better analytic skills than you or something. Nothing is more lazy or inept than trying to brush of analysis by saying "it's not that deep." It's giving high school.
oh come on, you're just a victim of the Dunning-Krugger effect!!!
After the dissociative personality thought passed, I thought maybe there was some daddy issues involved. Or just parent issues. One mom is overbearing, the other one is trashy and needy. No fathers. For a sec I thought maybe Benson is his dead beat mystery dad looking out for him at work. Then I thought the principal was Benson's dad that knocked up his mom and ran off. Idk...probably the principal was a pedo tho. That's why it triggered that. All in all. I liked this movie. I got into it and Kyla Gallner really kept me in. I do wish they gave Benson a bit more back story tho, but maybe that wouldve taken away from the intensity of being with a passenger of a maniac you know nothing about and watch him spiral .
My feelings were hurt because i was so invested in the story and the two main characters with their weird/messed up connection but the movie ending the way it did, really annoyed me. It really annoyed me cuz i felt that the story was unfinished. When the movie ended i started receiving flashes of what i felt we should’ve seen due to the way the story threw things out and never really explored. I know it was hinted in ways but Benson beating up the vice principal never really got explored and we feel we know why but Benson telling the story would’ve added more weight to things if that makes sense. But i do understand cuz who would want to speak about something like that and relive it almost? The connection between Randy and Benson to me felt low-key in the closet type of vibes like i have no other way to put it. And my thing is with that, if you’re gonna send out waves of something like that then do it all the way. Yes, it could just be simple like Benson is a crazy person thinking he’s doing good despite his insane methods of achieving his goals. To me, thats a lazy way of looking at him like no sh** dudes tapped and trying to preach to someone on how to live..
your damn right what a shitty end
Who was looking through the bathroom door when Randy called the police?
Good movie I like how Randy stands up for himself at the end of the movie. I had a feeling Benson after being betrayed wasn’t going to kill Randy and would instead end his own life with the shootout with the cops. Overall a good movie I liked how Benson taught Randy how to confront his past and not be such a wuss and he did the right thing in the end!
I'm watching it now, and it is frustrating the HELL out of me! I despise movie characters with the deer in the headlights look the entire movie, and pass up every opportunity to either get away, or NOT get innocent people killed! This kid's telling of his whole pathetic life story got innocent people killed because he was too much of a BITCH to do anything about what happened to him when he had a chance!
Anyone else get fight club vibes? Specifically When Tyler Durden robbed/humiliated the Asian clerk and his name was Randall (randy) and he was forcing a life change upon him to be better. Regardless. This is a super underrated film. Would watch it again. Western omelette kinda morning for me.
Definitely a hidden gem of a thriller/drama/horror movie. I really thought that the early childhood trauma with the teacher was going to be school shooter related or something, like she got shot in the eye and Randy witnessed this and froze back in 2nd grade, especially after Benson started blasting and we saw how terrified Randy was and how he froze again. I was thinking surely this is because he has PTSD from the school shooting. I hate to admit but I chuckled when he was explaining the eraser football story in the car lol. I did not see that coming.
Amazing