Big Driver (2014 TV Movie) User Reviews

Maria Bello is a Superstar

[rbrb · 7/10 · 6 October 2018]

The lead actress in this movie gives a staggeringly superb performance.

She is a famous fiction writer who becomes the victim of a horrendous crime and decides to seek revenge.

The problem with this film is that it is presented in the screwball style(the story comes from Stephen King) which turns it into what the English call a 'black comedy' with imaginary characters and objects speaking out loud and the dead talking after their demise. Despite these challenges, the lead player still manages to make this a compelling view:

7/10.

View more than once

[nowego · 6/10 · 9 June 2018]

This is written after my second viewing, not having remembered the first viewing when I first got a copy of it, judge that how you like.

Unabashed fan of anything Stephen King and almost anything that Maria Bello is in, this is a good watch. It starts off at a pedestrian enough pace, has a shocking bit that he viewer has to digest then powers on and builds to the climax like almost all Stephen Kings writing does with twists along the way.

Some of the story is a little predictable, but the acting by all concerned is well above average which made the movie quite believable. No silly mistakes and drawn out sequences where the villain gains a temporary upper hand like most revenge movies was a nice change.

Overall an enjoyable movie, but not for the faint hearted.

A distinct King film

[jtindahouse · 7/10 · 12 February 2015]

If you're at all familiar with the work of Stephen King then you wouldn't even need to be told this was an adaption of one of one of his short stories to know it. It has his signatures written all over it from the talking GPS, the elderly character from one of our heroines book who is an extension of herself, the dark humour - it's all there. I'm told this sticks very faithfully to the book and I've always felt adaptations of King's work are at their best when they do this.

It's very similar to Jodie Foster's 2007 film 'The Brave One'. A woman taking revenge for a heinous crime committed against her. These days the revenge genre, when the lead character is a man, has become a little stale so filmmakers are having to think up creative ways to keep it interesting with unique killing styles and traveling half way across the globe to find their prey. It seems the female lead character is still fresh enough though that the revenge can be enacted in a pretty straight up and down way.

For a TV movie the quality is certainly all there. The acting is very decent and the story never drags nor feels rushed. Maria Bello impressed me in the lead role. She was gritty and believable and never makes you turn against her which is very important in this type of film. It never really does anything original enough to be considered great which is the only thing holding it back. But overall a good watch.

This is a Lifetime movie? Wow!

[waba-se-wasca · 7/10 · 26 May 2016]

'Big Driver' is a dark and unexpectedly violent made-for-television adaption of horror master Stephen King's novella of the same name from his 2010 collection 'Full Dark, No Stars.' I haven't seen many Lifetime movies so far, but this one is probably one of the best ever. The movie is dark and graphic but it also includes some comedic elements at the right times. The movie clearly doesn't take itself too seriously, which is a good thing, especially since it's an adaption of of a novella by Stephen King, whose stories are known for their often not all too serious tone and quirky humor. In that regard its very fitting that rock queen Joan Jett has a small role in 'Big Driver.'

The movie has a great revenge story, an evocative setting, and an excellent cast led by Maria Bello ('A History of Violence') and including the fantastic Ann Dowd ('Compliance'). Also highlighted must be Will Harris' ('In Time') both charismatic and terrifying performance as the titular villain Lester 'Big Driver' Strehlke. I don't really remember seeing him in anything else besides 'In Time', but I guarantee that you won't forget him after seeing his performance as Big Driver. Good job! Director Mikael Salomon already directed another Stephen King adaption, namely 2004's two-part television movie 'Salem's Lot', which was a decent effort. Salomon is probably best known for directing the 1998 action movie 'Hard Rain,' which has received generally negative reviews, although I've always liked it. I see stylistic similarities between 'Hard Rain' and 'Big Driver'. Both movies feature good actors in an exceptional setting and both are pretty grim at times and witty at others.

'Big Driver' has the right combination of darkness and humor, which is a feature of every great Stephen King story. I'd say Salomon did a good job bringing King's novella to the screen. It's definitely one of the better Stephen King adaptions and one of the best ones made for the small screen.

Not the best nor the worse adaptation of a Stephen King book

[deloudelouvain · 6/10 · 1 March 2015]

First let me say that the books from Stephen King are always better then the movies they made from it. The movies from his books that were well made are The Shining, Carrie, Stand By me, The green Mile and maybe a couple more. But most of the time the movies don't even come close to the actual quality or suspense of the novel. Anyways, for this movie I didn't read the book so it is difficult to compare them. The movie was okay, a typical revenge movie with typical Stephen King characters. Maria Bello gave an okay performance playing the leading role of the raped woman. The music and sound effects were a bit mediocre. It will not be remembered as the other good adaptations of his books but it's an all right movie for TV. Overall I would give it a 6,5 rating.

very odd.

[daggersineyes · 5/10 · 13 September 2015]

It's not great but it's not bad. I rarely feel this ambiguous about a movie to be honest. It seems to be a revenge thriller with an odd light- hearted "Murder She Wrote" sensibility, which honestly makes no sense but results in something quite bemusing & unexpected. I really don't know what I think about this flick but I sort of enjoyed it. Some of the reviewers here giving it negative reviews are so incorrect in their comments I actually wonder if they even watched the movie. Certainly it's doubtful if they DID watch it that they actually paid it much attention. For example, there was no "dead relative" talking to her, that was clearly one of her novel's characters and the other women were part of the "knitting circle" from her books. The point was that she was having trouble separating reality from fantasy, but many have missed that point. There is a lot more to this story than some seem to think so if you are the kind of person who needs everything spelled out to you carefully and/or have the attention span of a flea then you won't like this flick. Others might like it tho. Worth giving a shot but don't expect too much. It just could have been done a whole lot better.

Good revenge drama

[kevinandmarsha · 7/10 · 2 February 2015]

Good dialog, good story line, good acting. Characters are developed in an interesting way. My husband and I, who generally prefer action flicks, got this because of Maria Bello, and high marks on this site. Maria, as always, does a great job here. Though this is not really an action film, it kept us entertained and we both enjoyed it. A few somewhat "superficial" moments early in the film, but it gets serious soon. And, as in any other film, there are moments when you say "Just do this or that!" and at least one thing is left unexplained, but it does not spoil the film. Great ending, with a vague reference to an earlier Maria Bello film I'm sure you'll recognize.

Slow, linear, eye roller - her Nuvi was the smartest and most entertaining aspect of the film

[gustheaffen · 1/10 · 20 October 2014]

I recorded this movie not knowing if it was a new series or movie but seeing the commercials and casting it looked interesting. It is a Lifetime TV movie and not a very good one.

Maria Bello plays a smug crime writer who attends an event upstate where she is the guest speaker. Her character isn't very likable and even though she is a CRIME writer she takes the suggestion from the creepy lady that hired her (Ann Dowd) to take a scenic route home late in the afternoon through unknown country roads. Creepy lady even goes so far as to program the directions into her Nuvi. Any sane person, let alone a crime writer with an imagination, would have changed the directions back to the known freeway as they were leaving the parking lot. But Bello takes her route in the late afternoon and soon runs over some boards with nails that flatten her Prius tire and leave her stranded conveniently at an eerily deserted empty building. Along comes Big Driver - a 6'4" huge menacing man she stops and jokes around with to entice him to change her tire. As soon as he starts looking at the tire it suddenly occurs to her how alone she is with this big man and sure enough he attacks and spends the next 15-20 minutes raping her multiple times and dragging her into a tunnel to leave her for dead with his other victims. She manages to get out of the tunnel, get her stuff and wonder up the road to a bar/convenience store (uh, why didn't she go there originally?!). She then gets a limo driver to pick her up and decides not to report the incident or bodies to the police. No one that sees her in tatters bleeding bothers to call the police either.

Basically through her own head voices and her Prius Nuvi that talks to her she determines this was a planned set-up by the creepy woman that hired her and confirms this by researching her family on the Internet (should have been microfiche!) and finding out Big Driver is her son. She then goes on a vengeance and tracks mother and brothers one by one and shoots them to death.

There are no twists or shocks in this movie (none that you can't see a mile away) but plenty of things make zero sense. Her Prius she left at the deserted building ends up fixed back at the bar (along with her purse, keys and driver's license) managed by Joan Jett and though she was just brutally raped she has no problem taking a cab alone to collect her things (okay she has a hand gun but seriously). She annoyingly spends time talking to her fictional characters and Nuvi which gives her far better advice than anything she can come up with.

Really a stupid story and waste of talent. Since Bello's character is as unlikeable as any other in the story I really didn't care that she had been rapped and almost murdered. It was a sloppy silly script that makes zero sense to anyone with a lick of common sense. Even the final scene was totally cliché and ridiculous with her gun jamming after shooting Big Driver and him coming after her in slow motion. I'd rather spend two hours at the DMV than see this train wreck again.

Much like the Lizze Borden movie they did with Christina Ricci it wasn't that bad...not that bad for a Lifetime movie

[cosmo_tiger · 6/10 · 5 November 2014]

"I'll let the cops know but not tonight. All I know is if I see him again I'll kill him." Tess Thorne (Bello) is a famous mystery writer who is invited to speak to a group of fans. On her way back home she blows a tire. When someone stops to help her she is relieved but that turns to fear. After she is knocked out she wakes up to him raping and beating her then he leaves her for dead. She manages to escape and return home. Rather than calling the cops she decides to investigate on her own. She starts off on her quest for revenge. First thing I have to say is that this movie actually wasn't that bad at all...for a Lifetime movie. I wasn't sure how they could convert a Stephen King book into a Lifetime movie and I will admit that they did a pretty good job and Maria Bello does a pretty good job. Much like the Lizze Borden movie they did with Christina Ricci it wasn't that bad...but again...not that bad for a Lifetime movie. Overall, defiantly felt like a made for TV movie but I have seen worse. I give it a B-.

From a Stephen King story, with holes big enough to drive a semi through...

[moonspinner55 · 2/10 · 19 October 2014]

Poorly-written cable-made thriller, adapted by Richard Christian Matheson from a Stephen King novella, has the authoress of a series of mystery novels beaten, raped and left for dead by a truck driver after blowing out a tire on a curiously deserted "scenic" road. Instead of calling the police, she figures out she was set up and takes matters into her own hands. Abhorrently irresponsible at its core, this "woman's revenge" tale is confoundedly illogical, conveniently skipping over important details (such as how the writer's vehicle--with four good tires--ends up parked at a bar where the proprietress also has her phone number, identification and keys). Maria Bello looks convincingly frazzled in the lead role but has no personality. Olympia Dukakis is amusingly wry as a puckish member of Bello's imagination, and rock singer Joan Jett has a nice (if pointless) bit part, but the wayward, derivative picture is so under-directed (and so determined to be gamy and shocking) that it forgets to cover its tracks.

Nice psychological thriller

[billsoccer · 8/10 · 23 February 2015]

Watched the movie despite the reviews because of Steven King's writing it. Couldn't believe I'd seen the same move - it was a good exercise in psychology. To briefly over the story, a successful author is raped. She avoids telling anyone because she fears retribution, both professional and personal. She soon start hunting her assailant. Some of her behavior isn't helpful or rational. Many times you catch the 'heroine' hallucinating, so was she making it all up? Is she the real killer? The tension was well-done. The plot twists were credible and added to the suspense. So what were the detractors watching?? OK, it wasn't a big-budget movie, but it was certainly entertaining.

How a victim should act

[tomfsloan · 7/10 · 22 September 2018]

Instead of a typical wimpy victim, this woman decided to be strong and seek revenge. I enjoy a good dose of revenge. She was a smart and determined woman with a new agenda. There are a few good twists along the way. Stephen King of course, but that does not always guarantee a good movie. The whole Olympia Dukasis part was nice. This wasn't perfect (few movies are) but very good and worth the time to see.

Expected a lot more

[dmekuli · 5/10 · 1 February 2015]

As a Stephen King's fan I was excited about this movie. In the beginning I thought the story was developing pretty good and I was on the verge of another thrilling experience only to find out as the story developed a disappointment with the way events occurred, on or near the same places in a roundabout with boring monologues. I actually thought I was going on for the Wrong Turn or Hills Have Eyes scenario but not even that.

This is not the end unfortunately. I also thought the acting was not up to SK book standards. Better luck next time, I'll rate this movie 5 for the sake of book author.

COME AND GET IT

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 13 April 2019]

Pop mystery writer Tess Thorne (Maria Bello) gets set, raped and left for dead on a New England back road. With the help of her imaginary friends she enacts revenge.

The film was predictable. I kept waiting for a twist or that Stephen King moment and it wasn't there.The whole film was easy to figure out once she got the short cut. This was hack writing and the second King film (A Good Marriage) I have seen in a row that was not up to speed. Acting was okay, but the film didn't entertain me. Lacked intensity. Overrated due to the Stephen King name.

Guide: Rape. No nudity or F-bombs.

Not Bad

[thegreenarrow-28184 · 7/10 · 3 August 2019]

This was not that bad, it looks very cheep, the plot is very simple, its bot that long.. but that doesn't equal a bad movie. never really got the feeling i was watching a Stephen King movie, but thats okay! its still an entertaining movie none the less

They think we're morons

[Schuriken · 2/10 · 2 February 2015]

The entire film is about 1 hour and 20 minutes long. Which explains perfectly what you're about to see and why.

You're about to see a short film with a scenario so common, your eyes will keep rolling every 2 minutes.

Why should you see this, I don't know, it's not a very clever film. Same old stuff all over and over again. It brings absolutely nothing to the table.

A woman gets raped, left for dead and returns to have her revenge on the guys who did it. It doesn't sound much now does it ?

I am certain that the director during the filming had only one thought on his mind. That the movie poster will read Stephen King and he will get away with it. But no, he didn't get away with it. The film is mediocre at best. The dialogue is very frustrating and ridiculous.

No horror, no mystery, no plot, no nothing. Bad acting and unimpressive photography.

You know there are still people around that have seen too many movies to be impressed like a 7 year old child who watched this story for the first time.

A second or third choice Stephen King film. Simple as that.

Wrong stop

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 30 October 2020]

I have not read the Stephen King story this is based on. And while I think this is a decent movie (you can tell from my rating), I wish I had. I mean it's not too late to still do, but I mean I wish I had before I watched the movie. I could have commented better on how the transition works (or doesn't).

I kind of feel like this is better in written form. No matter though, the thought thing becoming real is well filmed and visualized. The "inciting incident" feels weird and completely wrong to me ... but what happens after it kind of makes up for it. It still is quite devastating and some may not recover from it. Totally understandable ... horror is what this is and you know what road it will take - still has some surprises along the way (no pun intended)

negative and realistic, but too empty

[NijazBaBs · 5/10 · 6 December 2019]

I liked this movie for being very real. Meaning it reminds me to experience of any personal real life problems, being in trouble, surviving, worrying, or being in or near somebody with accident. Feelings of fear, worry, shock, survival, harsh nature. Also good that it is negative because it raises our awareness on the negative topics like rape, crime, injustice. Bit mysterious and unpredictable, just like real life is. But definitely too empty, too little characters, and most things are missing such as more people, government, more locations, more story. Everything happened like some bad dream or being in a fog, unclear, which makes this movie very real and negative but too empty.

A strong desire for revenge

[blumdeluxe · 6/10 · 4 September 2017]

"Big Driver" is an adaption of a Stephen King plot evolving around a young writer who gives a lecture in the countryside and gets raped several times on her way back home. As she seeks revenge, she returns to the place of her horror to hunt down her perpetrators.

There's not much new to the plot. A beautiful woman who is lost in the countryside because her car broke down should by now be a very regular appearance in the states, judged by the movies depicting it. The tendency to bring in the characters from her books are controversial, some might hate it, personally it didn't disturb me that much because at least this way you have something that separates the film from plenty others. I like the revenge element, although it is hardly unlikely that she turns from a wreck into a cold-blooded killer in less than a week and it would be very irresponsible to let the police out of everything she saw.

All in all this is not one of the strong King adaptions. What you see is what you get, so if you like what you see go ahead and give it a try. Otherwise there are better titles within the genre that are waiting to be explored.

A terrible King adaptation

[Leofwine_draca · 2/10 · 3 April 2016]

I've seen plenty of Stephen King adaptations in my time, but BIG DRIVER has to be one of the very worst. It's based on a novella by the author and had a screenplay written by Richard Christian Matheson, no less, but that doesn't make it any good; it turns out that this was a television movie, which may go some way in explaining the horrible execution.

You know those films which attempt to be serious but feel false and half-hearted instead? That's the case here. BIG DRIVER skirts the usual TV movie problems by offering explicit adult material, but the storyline is very unsatisfying and it turns out to be a King version of a simple 'rape revenge' storyline a la THE BRAVE ONE.

Maria Bello has never been one of the most interesting actresses and things are no different here. There are the usual kooky Stephen King elements added to the plot - and of course, the main character just HAS to be a successful author - but it's all so insipid, so stupid, that I could barely watch it. A far cry from the glory days of SALEM'S LOT and CARRIE, this one.

A satisfying revenge movie with twists and turns

[hawktwo · 8/10 · 19 October 2014]

This has the creepy overtones of a Stephen King story and the movie does a very good job of delivering on the story.

On the surface we see a successful author of lightweight mysteries, visiting her fans, and enjoying their adulation.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, she has a childhood trauma that has given her some unique coping abilities that she has used to be successful.

When trauma hits once again, she copes because she has a genius ability to compartmentalize everything.

At times, I wondered if this was going to be a rehash of Misery or perhaps another take on The Burning Bed.

The movie successfully mixes the seriousness of a near death with lighthearted satire.

People, QUIT LOOKING FOR PERFECT

[laragi · 7/10 · 19 October 2019]

This is a simple revenge film of sorts but a GOOD revenge film of sorts. I think some people write reviews with righteousness on the brain. It's hard to watch at times but fulfilling just like I Spit on Your Grave. I've seen this 3 times and just now wrote the review. It's solid, oh, and it's Stephen King; a far cry from his other masterpieces but still King.

Eh

[jmurdaj · 3/10 · 6 June 2015]

I'm a huge fan or maria bello and stephen king. So this movie was a win win for me. Not so much. It was anticlimactic. I wish it had more punch. It could have been a brilliant movie. It just wasn't the thriller it should have been. I didn't read the book. So I have to give credit that it's not the movie's fault that it sucked; they are just following the book. But not all books should be made into a film. There just so many times where you wanted her to and expected her to do something. But she didn't. Something that would have been common sense. Again, I'm sure they are just trying to stay true to the book. But if you're bored on a Sunday watching lifetime, it does the trick.

not a fan

[eric-18268 · 7/10 · 29 July 2019]

I am not a fan of stephen king . but it did not seem it was going to be a horror film . so i watched it anyway . i liked the suspense, not too tense, and the ending is satisfying to my taste .

Is the glass half empty or half full?

[agostino-dallas · 6/10 · 27 March 2016]

OK, it is a movie made for TV, not the big screen, so lower your expectations. You should watch it on day where sports on TV is not an option. It is raining outside or too hot, maybe too cold for external activity. Moreover, maybe you just watched the news or TV and you saw rapists reported. Of course, if you liked any of "I spit on your grave" movies, you will like this one too. It could be all I have to write about this movie but since IMDb requires at least 10 lines, I think I'd better comment this a little bit more. It is funny how taking justice into your own hands is like an old cake recipe. People know how the cake will taste. There is nothing more to it but with some good coffee or right icing or top, it will be OK. You will "eat" this one too, just make sure you have something to add to it.