The hacker-thriller genre, a staple of the 1990s, captivated audiences with a fusion of far-fetched narratives and surprisingly accurate predictions about the techno-future. Wardriver leans on these classic roots with a noir-inspired twist, though it initially struggled to gain traction after a scant theatrical release last spring. Now, it’s gaining momentum on Paramount+, leaving viewers to ponder: Is this a resurgence of the genre or merely another campy dive into computer-themed storytelling?
WARDRIVER: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Plot: Enter Cole (played by Dane DeHaan), a rogue hacker exploiting his talents to siphon free wifi, swipe banking details, and empty business accounts—all for his own gain, though his modest lifestyle suggests otherwise. Things take a sharp turn when Oscar (Mamoudou Athie), a vigilant doorman at a posh restaurant that falls prey to Cole’s schemes, corners him into targeting Sarah (Sasha Calle) and her suspiciously large bank balance. As the plot thickens, Sarah, Oscar, and Cole find themselves entangled in a dangerously tangled web of intrigue and deceit.
Cinematic Vibes: Wardriver eschews the mid-’90s internet paranoia typified by films like Hackers or The Net, instead embracing the style of a 1940s noir flick revamped for the digital era. Expect criminal archetypes, a protagonist of questionable morals, and a potentially treacherous femme fatale—all hallmarks of classic noir with a tech twist.
Standout Performance: While the intimate cast delivers consistently subdued performances, Dane DeHaan shines particularly bright. Once pegged as the “next big thing” in Hollywood, DeHaan’s portrayal of the lone wolf hacker showcases his talent, capturing a character whose intelligence might not lead him quite where he desires.
Notable Lines: Daniel Casey’s script injects noir elements into the 2020s landscape, yet it stands out more for its stripped-back style than memorable quotes. Much of the drama unfolds in silence, with Cole isolated in his machinations or feverishly clicking away at a keyboard, the film’s tension underscored by the ominous quiet of Salt Lake City’s streets.
Sex and Skin: Though DeHaan resembles sort of a Dirtbag DiCaprio (which is to say, DiCaprio from One Battle After Another) and Calle is also strikingly gorgeous, the movie’s sexuality is relatively muted for a contemporary movie (though it smolders in an appropriately retro way).
Our Take: The minimalism of Wardriver occasionally turns into a hinderance. The plot’s twists and turns ultimately feel pretty predictable, especially if you’ve seen more than a handful of noir thrillers. How refreshing, though, to see a new movie with such a firm grasp of noir fundamentals. Director Rebecca Thomas is known primarily for her TV work, including a notoriously fan-hated episode of Stranger Things. Yet her second feature doesn’t at all feel like that film-TV hybrid you often see in streaming movies. (It probably helps that Wardriver was at least nominally produced for theaters.) The film’s atmospheric shadows — a lot of it takes place at night — are rich and textured, rather than just murky, and Thomas makes great use of Salt Lake City locations to evoke a world that’s nocturnal and urban but surprisingly desolate at times.
DeHaan and Calle are both superhero-movie refugees — he was teeing up to iinherit the mask of the Green Goblin in the ill-fated Amazing Spider-Man film series, while she played Supergirl in a supporting role in The Flash — but despite their still-youthful good looks, they’re able to play the kinds of parts that in the 1940s equivalent of this movie would go to older-looking (if not actually older) performers. They’re both plenty charismatic, as is Mamoudou Athie, who often plays gentler personalities, while remaining believable as characters trapped in a tight spot. It would be easy to overhype Wardriver; this is a small-scale movie, somewhat predictable in its broad outlines. Yet studios have so thoroughly abandoned this kind of modest, yet stylishly-wrought, genre play that a 95-minute hacker thriller with well-drawn characters and noir bona fides feels, at times, like a revelation.
Our Call: I have no idea how broader audiences discovered Wardriver, but they’re right to keep watching it. It’s a rock-solid thriller. STREAM IT.
Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) is a writer living in Brooklyn. He’s a regular contributor to The A.V. Club, Polygon, and The Week, among others. He podcasts at www.sportsalcohol.com, too.
Stream Wardriver on Paramount+