Hey gang, Valkor here. As we’re getting closer to Halloween, I
bet you’re gathering up some horror favorites for your viewing
pleasure. Sure, you can go the route of a Krueger, Voorhees, or
Myers film. But, how about something fresh and original, which
is kind of rare for the genre? Check it out its RYDE, directed
Brian Frank Visciglia. And get ready for “the ride of your life”
(pun intended).
RYDE mostly centers on Paul (David Wachs), a guy who appears to have a pretty chill demeanor; but deep down he’s got the heart of a psycho killer looking for a reason to “cut loose”. After meeting a random hookup, they share a RYDE car (think UBER or LYFT) back to her place where Paul quickly puts the kibosh on his host. He calls back his RYDE driver Karl (Kyle Thomas Schmidt), to take him back to his place and cruise around for a bit. Eventually, Paul does away with Karl and takes his place, picking up and slashing and bashing his way through all of his pick-ups.
There’s a bit of a side story to this film too, which also connects to the main story of Paul and his RYDE sharing killing spree; we delve into the lives of Jasmine (Jessica Serfaty) and her douche bag of a boyfriend Marcus (Ronnie Alvarez) who are about to spend a night out together. But due to Marc’s douchebaggery, things don’t go over so smoothly. They don’t start the evening off with a RYDE, but it all ends with Paul. And how it ends, well you’re just gonna have to sit through this one and find out.
As a frequent user of the UBER app, all I have to say is that after watching RYDE, I might have to switch back to taxis. I don’t think it’ll make things better, but I’d be a little less creeped out. Maybe. I DUNNO!
The Good:
I went into RYDE with the lowest of expectations, thinking it’d be a cheesy slasher flick. But I can honestly say, RYDE is one of the most original and most entertaining horrors I’ve seen in quite some time. I know I gave high props to “Red Christmas”, but that was old school fun; RYDE is something different, refreshing, and unpredictable save for the end. However, I won’t fault the film for that. Because how it ends, it’s the only way I can see things going. The plot is definitely something most can relate to, and it might even make some folks a little uncomfortable depending on their experiences with ridesharing apps. The horror bits are truly gruesome! I mean tell us how you’re really feeling, Paul? And speaking of which, David Wachs’ Paul is the slasher/killer 2017 deserves! He plays his character to perfection – all calm and cool one minute, and the next he’s got a knife all up and inside your guts… or a boot to the face… or a… well let’s not give away all of the killings. Needless to say, the dude owns the role and I applaud his efforts! In the end, if you’re looking to add a little something new, something refreshing, and scary to your Halloween film rotation, then definitely add RYDE to the mix!
The Bad:
I only had one minor issue with the film, which centered on the opening that I felt was a little too ominous; it kicks off with Jasmine coming home from work, and you suddenly see a pair of boots lurking that turn out to be Marcus. Ultimately, I felt this was unnecessary. Then again, it made me think that Marcus was the killer. And if that's the intent, then well done!
The Ugly:
Too many to detail! So many faces bashed in… so many…
RYDE is available now on digital media such as iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Instant; and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a refreshing take on the classic slasher genre. I highly recommend it. And out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving RYDE the perfect score of 5.
