Jonas Govaerts feature debut Cub (Welp) was a powerful and twisting tale of childhood trauma. Released in 2014, it has taken Govaerts six years to devise his follow-up feature, H4Z4RD, a film that couldn’t be more different on every possible level.
Although directed by Govaerts, H4Z4RD was written by Trent Haaga, who is the mind responsible for Cheap Thrills, Deadgirl, and the adaptation of 68 Kill. Each film offers a different kind of wild, but all return Haaga’s voice, and H4Z4RD is no exception. The story places car-mad Noah (Dimitri ‘Vegas’ Thivaios) into the worst day of his life. He agrees to help his fresh-out-of-prison relative Carlos (Jeroen Perceval) on a job. His role is simply to be the driver. However, after the job goes South, it’s Noah that finds himself having to pick up the pieces. After the intended victims kidnap Noah’s daughter in retaliation, he must do everything he can to save her.
H4Z4RD is a film of ever-increasing high-stakes. Even at early doors there’s tension when it seems that Noah will be late to collect his girlfriend and daughter. He is stuck in traffic congestion and has only five minutes to reach his destination. Noah, though, is an expert driver, and easily manoeuvres through tight spaces and more to arrive with minutes to spare. This sequence demonstrates talents that Noah is going to need throughout the rest of the film, but its inclusion works within the story. It’s a much better approach than just some expositional conversation with characters exclaiming how excellent a driver he is.
After drop-offs have been made H4Z4RD shifts up a gear and from hereon in the challenges thrust upon Noah get harder and harder. As with any film constantly trying one up itself, H4Z4RD inevitably jumps the shark. Around this point the throttle eases slightly and it’s a bit of a struggle to get back on track. Govaerts does manage to steer the film back on the right path, and by the finale, you might even shed a tear or two.
H4Z4RD is best viewed with the volume cranked up to maximum. The soundtrack is a steady throbbing and pulsing of dance classics from yesteryear. It’s music that is sure to get any cinema goer pumping and their feet bouncing. With Darude’s Sandstorm and ATB’s 9pm (Till I Come) just two of the bangers, H4Z4RD injects a ton of energy into the film via its frantic songs. This vigour is followed through in the use of hyperlapse driving footage that has an almost warpspeed affectation around the edges of the frame. A drug trip involving animated animals gives H4Z4RD added zest, the film having more energy than a toddler supped up on orange squash and blue smarties.
A single location film that is forever changing its setting, H4Z4RD, is told from within and around Noah’s car. The car, a brightly coloured Lexus, is the first thing that is seen on screen, H4Z4RD opening with a stylised montage of Noah preparing his baby for the day. This is a car that is loved as one of the family and is treated with the utmost care and respect. Once deemed road-ready, the camera never leaves the interior of the vehicle, shooting through the windows or rearview mirrors to capture action and scenes outside of it. The technique has been done before, most notably in the Season eleven episode of Supernatural entitled ‘Baby’, but it is one that has been utilised well here. The car is its own character. An extension of Noah, the car goes through its own fair share of torment. If you thought Titane did weird things with cars, then prepare to be amazed, and slightly disgusted, to see what Govaerts attempts here.
68 Kills and Cheap Thrills set within the confines of a car, H4Z4RD is a non-stop juggernaut of high-octane ferocity that will have the viewer clinging on for dear life. Vastly different from his debut, Govaerts demonstrates an affinity for movie insanity. More please.
H4Z4RD
Summary
Strap-in H4Z4RD is an over-the-top, high-octane car ride from Hell.
H4Z4RD was reviewed at Arrow Video FrightFest 2022.
