DELIVERY RUN (2024)

3 stars

Plaion Pictures. Digital. Out Now

This English language thriller from Finland is set in a small snowy town in Minnesota. The opening scene establishes the central threat. A car accident on an icy road. A man drags himself from his burning car and then is confronted by a menacing snow plough. Cut to titles.

Lee (Leland) (Alexander Arnold) owes money all over the place – apart from final demand letters, he is also in debt to people who threaten him with possible violence.

He works as a food delivery driver to try and earn much needed dollars. On his way to his latest drop off he gets stuck behind a snow plough lorry – which he speeds past. Which may be his first mistake. Out on another run he encounters the vehicle again. Is he being targeted? He encounters the truck several more times – the huge blade heading towards him makes for a menacing image.

Of course nobody believes him – and so far the snowplough truck has only been an inferred threat.

Then he gets an order to be taken up to the mountains… there’s talk of the Dyatlov incident where several Soviets died under mysterious circumstances. I guess to add a note of dread. At the remote house there doesn’t seem to be anyone there. Exploring he finds something he doesn’t expect and he is soon speeding off in his car… with the deadly truck in pursuit. The snowy, icy landscape adds another level of danger.

Of course the obvious influence here is Spielberg’s DUEL, with maybe a touch of KILLDOZER –however this isn’t just a straight chase movie as it spends much of it’s runtime with the central character – Alexander Arnold makes for a personable lead, with some good dialogue. Director Joey Palmroos, who co-wrote the script with Anders Holmes, manages to wring out the tension from the situation, with a touch of humour for good measure. Stick around for mid credits scene.

Steve Kirkham