Big Driver (2014 Lifetime)

Big Driver (2014 Lifetime)

Cast: Maria Bello, Ann Dowd, Will Harris, Olympia Dukakis, Joan Jett

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Synopsis (via Lifetime)

In “Big Driver,” Tess Thorne (Bello), a famous and revered mystery and thriller writer, faces a long drive home following a book-signing engagement. But while driving on a lonely stretch of New England road, her tire blows out, leaving her stranded. Relieved when another driver stops and offers assistance, Tess quickly discovers her savior is actually her assailant, a serial killer who repeatedly assaults her. Left for dead in a drainage pipe to rot with the bodies of his other victims, Tess escapes and makes her way safely home. With her fragile mind beginning to unravel, she is determined to find her rapist and seek revenge, as payback is the only thing holding her together.

Thoughts

Tess is a successful thriller writer frantically getting ready for a book tour. Her neighbor, Patsy, helps her get ready via Facetime. She drives a long way with her GPS to a book reading and signing with a fancy knitting society. Ramona Norvell, the president of the club, gives Tess a shortcut through some back roads. Tess gets a flat tire and stops at an abandoned gas station. REALLY CREEPY.

There are wooden planks in the road with nails sticking out, and it seems deliberate. Tess tries to call AAA, but there is no reception, so she is stuck trying to change the tire herself. Eventually, she flags down a large man with a good sense of humor.

While the man changes the tire, Tess becomes uneasy and notices some wooden planks in the back of his truck. The man attacks her and then rapes her violently multiple times. When he is done with her, the man leaves her in a drainpipe to die. Tess comes to and is horrified to find other decaying bodies floating in the water as she crawls to the exit.

Bloody and wrapped in rags she found, Tess walks backed into town and comes upon a biker bar. She keeps walking and finds a gas station. Tess is horrified when she sees herself in the shattered mirror. Tess recalls what happened to her before calling for help. She leaves a voicemail to herself of every detail she can think of. No one at the gas station seems to want to help her and thinks she is crazy. Tess almost calls 911 but thinks better of it because no one will believe her and calls Ramona for a ride.

Tess showers and assess the damage the man has done. She doesn’t want to go public because the scrutiny will be relentless. Tess vows to get an STI test, and that will be the end of it. She falls asleep with a gun and remembers the dead girls. Should she call the police anonymously? Tess decides nothing good would come of it.

A bartender from The Stagger Inn (the biker bar.) calls Tess because they found her wallet. Tess asks questions about the large man and learns that he is a local named Lester. The bartender shares her story of abuse and promises to let Tess know if he comes back into the bar.

Tess starts to think she was set up; why did Romona tell her to go that specific way. She does some online research and learns that Ramona’s husband killed himself after their son Lester got into some trouble. She tracks down Ramona’s home address and sets out to break in during the night.

Tess pulls a gun on Ramona and asks her questions about her son. Tess tells Ramona that her son raped and tried to kill her. They struggle over the weapon, and once Ramona gets the gun, she tells her that she did send her to Lester. (She also tells her that her writing is crap.) Ramona shoots the gun, but there is no bullet in the first chamber. Tess grabs a knife and stabs Ramona telling her that she should have castrated her son the first moment she knew. Tess finishes Ramona off with a shot to the head and cleans up in the bathroom. (Where she finds the earing she was wearing during the attack.)

Next, Tess waits at a truck stop until Lester pulls in. She followed the wrong man and killed him. The man turns out to be Lester’s brother. The GPS, Tom, and a character from her book talk to Tess in her head. She is starting to crack.

Tess and her GPS locate Lesters house and finds printer printing photos of her attack. The brothers were both there, and they take pictures of all their victims. Tess puts on her earrings and creeps up behind Lester. He is confused because he thinks she is dead. Tess clarifies that she isn’t, and his mommy and brother are. She shoots him a few times but runs out of bullets, so she wachs him in the face with the wooden plant full of nails. Tess reloads her gun, kisses the bullet, and shoots him in the crotch. Then she just walks away.

Tess goes back to the scene for the crime to wrap up one final detail. Her cellphone. She has made the world a better place and covered her tracks in the process. The other victims are found, and Tess works on her next novel. Olympia Dukakis helps her. Betsy, the bartender calls and congratulates Tess on getting revenge. The end!

Side Note

Minority Report: None

Olympia Dukakis living in Tess’s mind as a book character was extraordinary bizarre, but it is Olympia Dukakis, so it works.

Also, who knew a TomTom would become so dated, so quickly.

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Overall rating

🔪🔪🔪 (3 Knives)