Forget haunted houses—Paramount's new horror movie Passenger traps you in a nightmare on wheels. Directed by André Øvredal (Troll Hunter) and co-written by Zachary Donohue (The Den), this film takes the classic road horror trope and gives it a demonic twist. In a recent Q&A moderated by Collider's Perri Nemiroff, producers Walter Hamada and Gary Dauberman, along with Donohue, revealed the chilling inspiration, the cursed production, and the lore behind the entity that haunts the highway.
The Birth of a Demon: From Backroads to a Universal Evil
Donohue's idea for Passenger was born from his childhood in upstate New York, where long, dark backroads were a daily reality. A car accident at age 20 and a childhood memory of hitchhiking with his mother after a breakdown fueled his desire to make a "road horror movie." But the breakthrough came when he realized that every town has its own haunted road legend—and what if they were all connected to the same demon? "If there's a Saint Christopher, there's got to be something on the opposite side of that coin," Hamada explained. That demon, played by Joseph Lopez (Run Rabbit Run), is not a creature that simply kills; he plays with his prey, making the terror psychological as well as physical.
A Cursed Production: Exorcists, Accidents, and Unexplained Events
The production of Passenger was plagued by strange and dangerous incidents. The team revealed that they had to bring in not only a priest but an exorcist to the set after a series of inexplicable events. From equipment malfunctions to cast and crew members experiencing unexplained illnesses, the shoot was, in Dauberman's words, "sometimes miserable." The film was shot practically, without the use of Volume stages, capturing the real darkness of Washington state's roads at night. This commitment to authenticity added to the eerie atmosphere but also made for a challenging production.
Why the Passenger Is More Than a Monster
Donohue emphasized that the Passenger is a demon, not a creature. "He doesn't just come out and kill you," he said. "He plays with his food before he eats it." This distinction is crucial to the film's horror, as it allows for a slow-burn tension that builds to a terrifying climax. The demon's lore is rooted in the idea that every haunted road across the world—from New Jersey to California—is the hunting ground of the same entity. This universal connection makes the horror feel personal and inescapable.
Behind the Scenes: Practical Effects and Real Fear
The film stars Lou Llobell (Foundation), Jacob Scipio (The Expendables 4), and Oscar-winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter). The cast and crew endured real fear on set, with one scene from the teaser trailer almost being cut entirely due to its intensity. The practical effects, combined with the real-life curse, created an atmosphere that even the most seasoned horror veterans found unsettling. For fans of the genre, Passenger promises to be a ride they won't soon forget.
For more on the film, check out our interviews with Øvredal and the stars. And if you're looking for more horror, don't miss our list of 10 International Horror Gems You've Never Heard Of or our ranking of every 'The Mummy' movie.
