When Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) and Patrick (Luke Norris) hail a black cab after a night out their driver (Nick Frost) is chatty, jovial even, but they are in no mood to talk. In fact, the couple is barely on speaking terms. That is, until they realize the driver has no intention of taking them home. Locked in the cab with no means of escape, the driver transports the couple to a stretch of deserted and supposedly haunted road. But what is his purpose? Is he mad or just plain evil? And why has he selected Anne and Patrick as his victims?

For in-depth thoughts on Black Cab, please see my colleague Phil Walsh’s review from its original streaming debut here.

Video Quality

The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio that makes for a very pleasing viewing experience. The majority of this movie takes place at night, but this disc handles it very well with only occasional signs of banding. There is a discrete loss of detail during some of the panning shots in the shadows, but it is hardly a significant issue. The transfer provides admirable black levels that do not stumble with crush or other shortcomings. There is no distracting damage or digital noise to impede this transfer. The movie has a reserved color palette, yet some colors stand out more on screen, such as certain lighting elements and fabrics. We are more impressed by the detail and clarity at hand, with subtle facets presenting with vital textures. Shudder has handled this well on Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

Black Cab arrives on Blu-Ray with a sturdy DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that translates everything as necessary. While the story is not aiming to be thrill-a-minute, the movie opens up when the narrative calls for it, and environmental sounds provide a steady, immersive atmosphere. Surround channels provide some welcome activity throughout the narrative. There is a premium placed on dialogue, and every exchange comes through quite assuredly. All words and sound effects stay capably balanced throughout. The track’s low end provides some enviable texture. All elements play well with the music, where nothing gets crowded out of the track. The track gets the job done with ease. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Bruce Goodison provides a commentary track that delivers great insights into the production process, working with the performers, the shooting locations, the larger thematic ideas, and more.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “The Black Cab: Icon of London Life & Screen” from film critic Becky Darke is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded dive into the place of Hackney carriages on screen.

Final Thoughts

Black Cab is a unique mixture of horror subgenres that never really coalesces into a satisfying whole. The reason to tune in here is the performance from Nick Frost, who brings a giddy madness to his portrayal that leaves you nervously chuckling to keep from being completely unnerved. Synnøve Karlsen complements him quite effectively by grounding the stakes in something personal. The supernatural flourishes are the least effective elements, as the budget shortcomings are more apparent, not to mention it simply being less interesting. The film gets some credit for being ambitious, and it provides a creepy sense of dread throughout, but it needed another pass on the script for the journey to be particularly notable. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and an informative commentary track.

Black Cab is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shudder and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.