10 Great Horror Movies You Definitely Missed In 2023
4. The Passenger
Carter Smith's The Passenger revolves around unassertive Randy (Johnny Berchtold,) whose life turns upside-down when his co-worker Benson (Kyle Gallner) goes on a killing spree. Desperate to make Randy stand up for himself, Benson takes his wimpy colleague on the road with him while he continues with his massacre.
Though The Passenger is more thriller than horror, it's one of 2023's most terrifying movies, thanks to Gallner's scene-stealing performance. Viewers are sure to be on the edge of their seat every time Benson appears, since he always acts like he's a moment away from slaughtering everyone in his proximity.
Benson's relationship with Randy is fascinating, since he genuinely cares about him despite relying on manipulative tactics to make him stay. For this reason, viewers can't help being enthralled by these interactions (even though it's apparent things aren't going to end well).
Although the violence is far and between, every brutal sequence leaves a major impact due to the flawless pacing, tight direction, and harrowing performances. The Passenger isn't just an underrated flick, but it's Carter Smith's best movie by far. If his filmmaking maintains this standard in the future, Smith could become a big name in horror circles.