As a longtime fan of Shaun of the Dead, seeing Nick Frost take a dark detour into horror with Black Cab was both unexpected and thrilling. Frost, known for his comedic timing and lovable roles in genre classics like Hot Fuzz and Attack the Block, completely reinvents himself here as Ian—a deeply unsettling cabbie with more than a few skeletons in the trunk. And let me tell you, this might be his most chilling performance to date.
Directed by Bruce Goodison (Born to Kill, Doctor Foster), Black Cab sets a claustrophobic, nerve-rattling tone right from the start. After a tense and emotionally fraught date, Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) and her controlling fiancé (Luke Norris) flag down what seems to be a lifeline—a black cab. But things go south quickly, spiraling from awkward to downright horrifying.
Karlsen delivers a standout performance as Anne, grounding the film with an emotional intensity that makes the unfolding nightmare feel personal. As Anne is forced to confront not only the psychotic intentions of her captor but also a haunting presence tied to her past, Karlsen never loses the emotional thread. Her arc—both physical and psychological—is gripping and distressingly believable.
Goodison’s direction thrives in the shadows, using the confined space of the cab to its full psychological advantage. The film flirts with supernatural horror without losing sight of the real-world terror of abduction and control. The inclusion of ghostly apparitions adds an eerie layer, keeping you constantly on edge and unsure of what’s real.
But the film’s engine is Frost, whose transformation into the menacing, unpredictable Ian is nothing short of jaw-dropping. He’s not playing this for laughs—he’s playing it for keeps. Watching him dial up the menace is a reminder of how versatile he truly is as an actor. There's a moment where a simple glance in the rearview mirror says more than a full page of dialogue could.
While the film leans heavily on genre tropes—captivity, repressed trauma, vengeful spirits—it manages to stay fresh with smart twists and a slow-burn approach to dread. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but Black Cab does offer a uniquely British take on psychological and supernatural horror, blending the two to excellent effect.
If you're like me and love watching comedic actors get serious (and seriously scary), then Black Cab is a ride worth taking. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself second-guessing your next taxi trip.
Jessie Hobson