“Wardriver” follows a hacker who gets caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse after being forced into a million-dollar cyberheist.
A Slow Burn That Takes Its Time
In the early stages of “Wardriver,” there’s a lot of… nothing. The opening minutes feature plenty of driving, walking, sitting and standing – with not much talking in between. This makes it hard to invest early on, especially as it becomes clear that the central character is involved in shady activities.
Dane DeHaan’s Cole is the classic “good guy-bad guy.” He commits crimes, but he does it in a “nice” way. This is the movie’s way of giving the audience some leeway to invest in him. However, this doesn’t necessarily work.
Even with a 93-minute runtime, “Wardriver” asks for patience. A lot of it. Plot threads slowly begin to develop over the first third, but there’s not really any discernible direction. While the stakes become more clear, progression still feels stalled past the midway point. Keep waiting. Eventually, the film finds its footing – at least to some degree.
“Wardriver” does attempt to offset this through nonchronological storytelling. By presenting parts of the narrative in fragments, it signals that something is coming, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.
Genre Blend That Doesn’t Quite Work
As a crime thriller, the film often gets lost between genres. At times, it functions more as a drama, or even a romance. Character dynamics sit at the center of “Wardriver,” placing more emphasis on conversations than the heist itself.
And after all of that, many of the developments still feel unearned.
It’s because of this that director Rebecca Thomas crafts a “risky” film. Though risk doesn’t always equal reward.
The first two-thirds lean heavily into that risk; obtuse, and at times, likely boring or even nonsensical for general audiences. Then the final 30 minutes arrive, and it feels like a completely different movie. Twists and turns pile up, giving some of the earlier material more meaning.
At a certain point, though, there’s a question of whether the payoff is fully earned. Daniel Casey’s script feels lopsided, with those late surprises coming across as necessary rather than natural – more of an attempt to stay engaging than a true payoff.
Performances and Visual Bright Spots
Despite its flaws, the cast stands out. DeHaan (Cole) leads a group that includes Sasha Calle (Sarah), Mamoudou Athie (Oscar), Karina Gale (Anna) and Jeffrey Donovan (Bilson).
DeHaan shows a wide emotional range, often conveying more through facial expression than dialogue. He’s an untraditional lead: not charismatic enough to fully root for, but not villainous enough to reject. The performance works, even if the character itself is only serviceable.
Director of photography Htat Lin Htut is another bright spot. He brings a neo-noir edge to the visuals, capturing gritty environments with style.
“Wardriver” is a slow burn without direction. It’s a modern take on cybercrime minus the modern stakes to match. The film aims to be a crime thriller, drama and romance – but never fully becomes any of them.
Rating: 2 out of 5
