Indie Movie of the Day: ‘Driven’
Our indie movie of the day is Driven, which held its west coast premiere at Dances With Films in July 2019. Driven was directed by Glenn Payne (Stagrassle Paranormal) and stars writer/actor Casey Dillard (As I lay Dying) and actor Richard Speight, Jr. (Supernatural, Band of Brothers).
An absolutely hysterical thriller, Driven pokes fun at the jobs we despise, coming-of-age identity crises, and mankind’s long struggle with demonic entities.
Emerson (Casey Dillard) is a rideshare driver with aspirations of doing standup comedy and a huge fear of failure. Her working nights are full of annoyances, inconveniences, and unwelcome thoughts about her ex-girlfriend until she picks up Roger (Richard Speight, Jr.), a mysterious out-of-towner on a mission to break a multigenerational curse.
Together, they have to overcome their harshly clashing personalities to fight internal demons – and literal demons invading the world. With no shortage of fun or heart, Driven pushes the boundaries of genre film, taking us on the ride of our lives.
Directed by Glenn Payne
Glenn Payne is a classically trained fine artist living in Blue Springs, Mississippi who has been pursuing creative enterprises in the Southeast for several years now. He uses his experiences working in various fields, his visual gifts, and his improvisational background to add unexpected elements to his many award-winning films. Glenn Payne remains active in Mississippi film scene with recent references to collaborations.
Written by Casey Dillard
Casey Dillard has been writing for years and screenwriting since 2011. She has written for and doctored scripts for award-winning films on the festival circuit and had material performed onstage at Sketchfest Chicago. Casey Dillard has additional credits including acting in Killer Concept (2021) and recent directing projects.
Starring Richard Speight, Jr.
American actor Richard Speight, Jr. was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He later graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California. In addition to acting in TV and film, Speight also directs. Those credits include commercials for major brands like Pepsi & Buffalo Wild Wings, numerous episodes of the hit CW series Supernatural, Lucifer for Netflix, and all ten episodes of Kings of Con for Lionsgate, a comedy series he cocreated and starred in with fellow Supernatural alumnus Rob Benedict. Speight received a Hugo Award nomination for his directing debut on Supernatural episode 1108 “Just My Imagination”. His fifth Supernatural directing effort, ep. 1320 “Unfinished Business”, also features Speight himself acting in two different roles. In one scene, those two characters fight each other: in a rare television moment, it was Speight vs. Speight directed by Speight. Follow the movie on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Since 1998, Dances with Films has been one of the top indie film festivals in the world. Buy tickets here now. Additional credits include The Winchesters (2022) and 9-1-1: Lone Star (2025).
Release and Availability
Digital and VOD release arrived on June 16, 2020 through Uncork’d Entertainment. The film reached platforms including Plex and saw a physical DVD release as well. Viewers looking for a late-night genre fix can still queue it up without waiting for another festival run.
Reception and Legacy
Described on Rotten Tomatoes as a strong B-movie horror with solid story, the film earned positive notes on chemistry between leads and the mix of humor and tension across multiple reviews. It maintains a cult following in indie horror-comedy circles, where fans keep rediscovering its blend of ride-along banter and supernatural stakes.
Production Challenges
Much of the action takes place inside a car, requiring creative filming solutions. Filmmakers discussed logistical challenges in festival interviews, explaining how tight interiors forced inventive blocking and lighting that still kept the energy high during long night shoots.
Thematic Elements
The story explores rideshare gig economy frustrations and personal identity crises. It blends internal emotional struggles with literal supernatural threats, giving the comedy a sharper edge while letting the horror feel personal rather than purely procedural.
Years after its festival debut, Driven still delivers the same offbeat energy that made it stand out on the circuit. The combination of Casey Dillard’s grounded performance and Richard Speight, Jr.’s unpredictable passenger keeps the ride unpredictable, and Glenn Payne’s direction keeps the genre mix feeling fresh. Whether you catch it on a streaming queue or hunt down the DVD, the film remains a sharp reminder that indie horror-comedy can balance laughs, tension, and heart without losing its edge.
