Today’s quick review: Vehicle 19. While traveling to visit his ex-wife in Johannesburg, American parolee Michael Woods (Paul Walker) picks up the wrong car at the airport and steps into the middle of a police cover-up. Alone in a new city, Michael must decide whether to risk his life helping Rachel Shabangu (Naima McLean), a local prosecutor, take down a ring of corrupt officials or to save his own skin.
Vehicle 19 is an action thriller set in South Africa. Vehicle 19’s main selling point is its unusual cinematography: the entire movie is shot from inside a single car. However, the novelty is not enough to make up for the movie’s weak execution. The premise has potential, but a flimsy plot, unlikable characters, and limited aciton hamstring what could be a competent thriller.
Vehicle 19 has flaws that keep it from making the most of its premise. The movie takes a long time to get going relative to its length, and the setup is a dry sequence of Michael driving around Johannesburg. Michael is as reluctant a hero as they come, making poor decisions and taking the initiative only very rarely. The few supporting characters are shallow and fail to give the movie an emotional backbone.
The movie does get a few things right. The car mix-up lets Michael get dragged into the main plot gradually, one discovery at a time. The in-car camera ends up being a wash, but the technique does give the film a sense of focus. There are only two or three instances of actual action in the film, but the restricted camera perspective places the viewer in the car with Michael, something that few other movies do.
Watch Vehicle 19 if you are in the mood for a lower-stakes thriller with experimental cinematography. Vehicle 19’s limited budget and scope keep it from being a noteworthy film, but it has just enough going on to be watchable for a dedicated viewer. Most viewers would be better off skipping it. For a better thriller with a similar plot, check out 16 Blocks. For a vehicular thriller with a bike instead of a car, check out Premium Rush.
4.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a decent premise, some novelty, and weak execution.