Facing mounting expenses and the unrelenting pressure of modern living, a down-on-his-luck cab driver is lured on to a mysterious new app that promises fast, easy money. As his first night on the job unfolds, he is pulled ever deeper into the dark underbelly of society, embarking on a journey that will test his moral code and shake his understanding of what it means to have freewill. The question becomes not how much money he can make, but what he’ll be compelled to do to make it. If you’ve got nothing to lose, how far would you go?

For thoughts on Self Driver, please see my colleague Lane Mills’s review from its original festival release here.

Video Quality

Self Driver makes its Blu-Ray debut with a very strong 1080p video presentation that translates the film’s look with great care. The ultra low-budget feature was reportedly shot using handheld cameras, which gives this a very claustrophobic, visceral aesthetic that makes you feel as if you are along for the ride. This also means the image is not always the most crisp and does not have the most complex color palette, but everything appears to be accurate to the source. The film primarily takes place at night, and there are some notable colors within the lighting such as neon signs along the road. The skin tones are natural with a fine amount of detail present in close-ups. The interior of the car and clothing provide some worthwhile textural details. Black levels reveal the slightest signs of banding in a few moments, but they largely hold up well enough. This Blu-Ray ensures this film maintains its authenticity as it is translated to physical media.

Audio Quality

Cinephobia Releasing gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings the soundscape to life without issue. Dialogue emerges clearly without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. Environmental sounds perk up the surround speakers with unique ambient details that settle you in the world of this vehicle. Any music maintains its fidelity as it complements parallel elements. There is a bit of texture in the lower registers during a few fraught moments when it comes to some of the bass in the music. The results are everything you want them to be when it comes to bringing this contained story to life. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Michael Pierro, producer Kire Paputts, and actor Nathanael Chadwick provide a commentary track that delves into the background of the production, collaborating with the other performers, the aesthetic of the film, the night shoots, and more.

Alternate Scenes with Commentary by Writer/Director Michael Pierro: A 16-minute collection of footage that didn’t make the final cut, including a full take of a scene from multiple angles that gives you an idea of how the movie was pieced together.

Deleted Scenes: An 11-minute selection of footage that was not chosen for the film.

Original Trailer (1:42)

Behind The Scenes Still Gallery: A two-minute collection of moments from the production.

Final Thoughts

Self Driver is a really fun satire of the gig economy that forces you to question how far you are willing to go in order to serve your own needs. The film is compact in terms of scale, which allows the narrative to drill down on what is most prescient. Things stay relatively grounded, so gorehounds looking for something particularly grisly may feel underwhelmed, but the tension rings true throughout for a particularly captivating experience. Cinephobia Releasing has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a decent selection of special features. Recommended

Self Driver 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: Cinephobia Releasing 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.