Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

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Watch this if you liked: “My Bloody Valentine”, “Ghost Rider”, "Demon Hunter"

"Drive Angry" has an escaping soul from hell, 80's classic rock and metal songs, a Chevy, a cult, Oklahoma and a supernatural being chasing the anti-hero. The audience could have sworn that they are watching a movie adaptation of "Supernatural", the television series. Except the fact that it is Nicholas Cage behind the wheels instead of Jensen Ackles and it is Amber Heard who is on the passenger's seat and not Jared Padalecki. Yes, Nicholas Cage.

This movie is preposterously unintelligible yet wealthy of delicious exhilaration. In layman's term, it is stupid but fun. Since it is heavily censored, it makes the editing of the film seems annoying and choppy most of the time. The dialogues, like any other supernatural-themed movie - are fun-filled and pun-filled (excuse the lame pun) although nothing is groundbreaking about it at all. So is the cinematography, visual effects and acting.

It is rather heartbreaking for a fan to see Nic Cage in this movie. It makes one wonder how did an Academy Award-winning actor became a lead in a C-rated thriller? It seems that everything went downhill after "Ghost Rider" (regardless how much he is entertaining in said movie) and Nic now prefers laughing at his movie career rather than pretending that it is still alive (like the two Toms; Hanks and Cruise). Amber Heard plays a gung-ho chick in boots and manages to be a less irritating blonde version of Megan Fox while Billy Burke as the cult leader Jonah King somewhat bears an uncanny resemblance to horror writer Stephen King - if he was ever on drugs and a whole lot skinnier.

Kudos however to William Fichtner, last seen on Malaysian screen playing the perverse District Attorney in "Date Night". His tongue-in-cheek take as 'The Accountant' provides most of the laughter - of course if one is a fan of movies where angels and demons wear suits. A sardonic devil is nothing new but in the world of nonsensical supernatural flicks, it is still acceptable and would never get old.

In conclusion, watch this movie without prior expectations. One does not need to bring their academic brain into the cinema for it - just their sense of humour and a good mood for a good entertainment.

Cinema Online, 24 February 2011