Set within the visually impressive surroundings of snowbound rural Minnesota, this indie survival horror offers countless knowing nods to its influences, but has enough of its own self-belief to avoid becoming simply a homage. Mixed in with echoes of Steven Spielberg’s Duel, Robert Harmon’s The Hitcher and the Coen brothers’ Fargo is director and co-writer Joey Palmroos’ own inventive and absurdist spin on the classic idea of a malevolent mechanical menace threatening a lone traveller.
Lee is a young underachiever with ambitions to open his own food truck business. But for now, he’s stuck as a gig-economy delivery driver, on the verge of eviction and bankruptcy, with a bad gambling habit and mounting debts to impatient local criminals. Out on the road, with only his goldfish Reggie for company, Lee is hunted by a huge snowplough and its unseen driver. None of the people in his life believe he’s being targeted, so Lee has to take matters into his own hands.
Alexander Arnold is excellent in the lead role, managing to make Lee likeable despite his terrible, self-destructive life choices. Palmroos and Anders Holmes craft sharp dialogue for their ensemble of oddballs, and mix in the visuals of Minnesota’s naturally atmospheric landscape. The massive snowplough is an arresting nemesis, but the limited budget precludes much in the way of metal-on-metal carnage.
It’s still an entertaining watch, even though there’s too much crammed into the short runtime and there are some stark inconsistencies in tone. Just try not to be distracted by the realisation that goldfish Reggie, who spends most of the film balanced in a bag on the dashboard of Lee’s car, would in reality be parboiled by the deep-winter demister.
DELIVERY RUN will be released on digital platforms in the UK on 6 October.
