By Geno McGahee
I haven’t seen Mark Dacascos in something in quite a long time. His work is usually very good. He has a presence and proved to be a capable action star as he did very well in ONLY THE STRONG and the relatively unknown REDEMPTION: KICKBOXER 5. In the 2019 Lionsgate release “THE DRIVER”, Dacascos is back and he is in a world that has been all but destroyed and we have some zombies roaming around.
The Driver (Dacascos) and his partner, Joe (Jeremy Stutes), have adjusted to the life and tend to fear the living more than the dead. The desperation has brought out the worst in people and the film becomes a near diary for the lead. They live in a society that is protected from the zombies and outside world and live as well as they can, all things considered.
The zombies get into the complex and now the Driver must take off and brings his young daughter, Bree (Noelani Dacascos) with him. Unfortunately, the Driver got bit by a zombie and I don’t care how badass you are, that will turn you into a zombie and now the Driver is racing against the clock, trying to protect the young child from the zombies, bad people, and even himself. He knows he’s zombie bound.
The Driver prepares Bree for the zombie world and teaches her how to survive. With his time limited, she must learn quickly about firing weapons, killing zombies and driving. As they roam, they come across other survivalists that are seeking the same refuge. We get the continued fight and the passing of the torch to the young Bree.
THE DRIVER is decent with a good pace, but it would have been nice to see Mark Dacascos do some martial arts with these zombies and take some of them out that way. I know he’s older, but he looks like he can still bring it.
It is now on DVD, Digital and On Demand from Lionsgate and checks all the boxes if you like zombies and zombie apocalypse movies. I recommend it.
