I first watched the works of writer-director Glenn Payne (lead actress Casey Dillard pens, here) by way of this film, which came to B&S About Movies as a P. R. screener. That official critic review was assigned to another writer. I did, however, officially review Payne's next-best distributed streamer to date: Killer Concept (2021). I just stumbled into Driven, once again, on my Smart TV: I decided to watch it again and, finally, give my own take on the film.
As with Payne, Dilllard (who wrote and stars in Killer Concept with director Payne) has written over a dozen shorts. As is the case with indies: you have to write what you know, write around what's available to you, and keep the story contained so as to maximize the budget available. So, I have this feeling Dillard has Uber'd between the writing gigs to pay the bills; heck, she probably wrote Driven on a lap top between the stop lights!
As you can tell by the numerous user and critic reviews, Driven, deservingly, got around the marketplace. The streaming enticement, here, is the always welcomed, familiar face of Richard Speight from TV's Supernatural. So, yes, it pays to have a familiar name on that theatrical one-sheet. It is sad to say, but if an unknown-yet-capable Mississippi actor (where this was shot) had been cast instead, many wouldn't have streamed this budget-smart film.
Dillard's Emerson Graham, instead of being a struggling writer, is a struggling comedienne (which I believe she pursues in real life; again: write what you know) dealing with a romantic break up. So, as with Travis Bickle before her: her life sucks and with zero motivation, she ferries backseat passengers to make coin. Only, on this night, her problems get worse: she picks up Roger, on the run from a demonic curse and his quest to save the world from it.
I see other reviewers drop Sam Raimi. Uh, yeah, there's a pinch of Evil Dead, here (even on a smaller budget than Sam's flick). So, instead of a cabin, we're trapped in a cab.
The on-the-budget effects are solid, Dillard's proved herself to me with Killer Concept, and Payne, as well, in the director's seat going back to Earthrise (2014), so what's not to like? They're self-financed indie filmmakers who need to write and need to act, so they're making their way, creating stories. Hopefully, along the way, team Payne-Dillard can secure the services of the oft-working Eric Roberts or Tom Sizemore -- both who are very cool in their quick-to-help indie guys like Payne and Dillard get their films distributed -- and inspire the masses to stream their worthy efforts.
If Driven is an example of what they can do with lawn money and couch cushion change, then what they can accomplish with an official production company-studio shingle's backing will certainly be impressive.