Watch Dashcam

Dashcam is a horror film that taps into the modern zeitgeist of live streaming, online personalities, and the ever-present surveillance culture that accompanies the proliferation of mobile and camera technology. Directed by Rob Savage, the film explores the blurred lines between reality and online personas, while offering a unique and immersive experience that leaves audiences questioning the veracity of what they see on their screens.

The narrative centers around Annie Hardy, played by herself—a brash and controversial internet personality known for her live streaming show Band Car, where she improvises music while driving and interacts with her online audience. Hardy's raw and unfiltered approach to her content and life throws viewers into a voyeuristic thrill ride that reflects the real-time decision-making process she embodies.

In Dashcam, Annie decides to leave the familiarity of Los Angeles and head to London during the 2020 pandemic, in a demonstration of her disdain for compliance and her appetite for recklessness. Upon arrival, her plans to continue broadcasting her chaotic adventures find a willing accomplice in an old friend, Stretch, portrayed by Amar Chadha-Patel. Stretch is a former bandmate and her polar opposite—responsible and pandemic-conscious—providing a stark counterpoint to Annie's provocations.

Their uneasy reunion takes an unexpected turn when Annie decides to flee Stretch's staid apartment for the thrill of the unknown London streets. Her live streaming continues unabated, as she decides to take an illegal gig that Stretch procures, delivering goods in exchange for some quick cash. This decisively puts the wheels in motion for what descends into an increasingly bizarre and perilous night.

Dashcam's narrative pivots when Annie picks up Angela, an enigmatic and mysterious character played by Angela Enahoro. The addition of Angela to the plot introduces a new source of tension and intrigue, pushing the already volatile Annie to new heights of unpredictability. As the night progresses, the audience is forced to confront the darkness that follows Annie and Angela—both inside the car and outside, in a shadowed and seemingly malevolent world that lurks just out of view.

Visually, Dashcam thrives on the confines of its principal setting—the car. With a camera perspective that often feels claustrophobic, Hardy’s POV consistently plays with perspective, toggling between the relentless motion of her live stream and the ominous stillness of the world she navigates. Rob Savage and his team capitalize on this juxtaposition, building tension through the immediacy of the dashcam's lens and the seeming authenticity of the unfolding real-world horrors.

The improvisational nature of the film's dialogue, driven primarily by Hardy's quick-witted and cringe-inducing banter, creates a sense of realism that can be both magnetic and repellent. It perfectly captures the essence of how the boundaries between a person's public and private selves can disintegrate in the context of perpetual online performance. The dissonance between Annie's online audacity and the real-world implications of her actions serves as a continuous thread throughout the unfolding narrative.

One of Dashcam's signature accomplishments is the way it builds upon contemporary fears—particularly the omnipresence of unknown threats in an already unstable and polarized society. Through its narrative progression, the film acts as a cautionary tale about the dangers of reckless behavior when faced with seemingly abstract digital audiences versus the tangible risks present in the very real, physical world.

The horror elements of Dashcam are compounded by a soundscape that oscillates between Annie's abrasive musical improvisations and the eerily silent sections of her journey. This interplay of sound and silence further immerses audiences into the film's descent from superficial online antics to the depths of an unpredictable nightmare. The synthesis of these auditory experiences serves to unnerve viewers and accentuate the visceral reactions elicited by the film's unsettling visuals.

Dashcam ultimately presents a gritty, unsettling ride that invites viewers to experience the full spectrum of entertainment, discomfort, and horror. By amplifying the discrepancies between one's projected online self and actual vulnerability to real-world consequences, Rob Savage pushes the envelope on the genre's ability to reflect contemporary societal themes. Just when audiences are lured into a deceptive sense of familiarity with Annie’s online persona, they are thrust into a labyrinth of unexpected turns, reminding them that reality can be far more terrifying than any carefully curated digital façade.

While Dashcam may not provide the comfort of traditional narrative structures, it does deliver an unflinching portrayal of new-age horror in the digital era. Its raw, unscripted dialogue and a setting that feels immediate and uncontainable complement a story that could only be told in a time when the line between online and offline personas has become almost imperceptibly thin.