Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Shaky horror has strong language, violence, crude humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dashcam
What's the Story?
In DASHCAM, self-obsessed musician Annie (Annie Hardy) travels from the U.S. to the U.K. during the COVID-19 lockdown and ends up on a road trip with her friend Stretch (Amar Chadha-Patel), livestreaming their journey via a dashcam. When she agrees to help out an older woman (Angela Enahoro) for cash, things get increasingly chaotic and a terrifying journey unfolds in front of Annie's online followers.
Is It Any Good?
While we've seen plenty of antiheroes over the years and a flurry of "unlikable" female characters in the wake of Fleabag, Annie takes the concept to a whole other level. In horror movie Dashcam, we're faced with a "final girl" that you kind of hope doesn't make it to those final credits. In fact, its legitimately difficult to spend the short 80-minute runtime in her company. From her COVID-19 denial to the cascade of offensive, shock-value filth that flows off her tongue -- even in life-and-death-situations -- she's impossible to root for. Attempts at humor rarely land, the "naughtiness" of Annie's lyrics and casual comments quickly becoming tiresome, though a few outside touches like a license plate reading WTF at just the right moment hint at a well that could have been deeper mined. It's a mix of The Blair Witch Project-style shaky-cam and techno-horror as seen in director Rob Savage's (far superior) previous film Host, with some nice-looking visual moments thrown in -- a hall of mirrors is predictably creepy. There is some commentary about what we choose to share with followers and people's behavior behind their keyboards, as well as the increasing issue with separating fact from fiction in the age of deep fakes. But these get lost beneath a wildly annoying character that makes you question more why she has any followers at all.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the level of violence in Dashcam. Did you find it scary, exciting, or both? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Lead character Annie is purposefully obnoxious and unlikable. Why do you think filmmakers made that choice? How did you feel about Annie and did it affect how you experienced the moments of danger in the film?
How did Annie livestreaming events impact the film? Did you find it disorientating? Did it make you feel closer to the action? Can you think of other horror movies that have used a similar device, and how do they compare?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
What do you think is the appeal of horror movies? Why do some people enjoy being scared and others don't? How do you feel when you watch a horror film? What kinds of experiences do you have in your body and in your brain?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 3, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : June 3, 2022
- Cast : Annie Hardy , Amar Chadha-Patel , Angela Enahoro
- Director : Rob Savage
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Momentum Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Fantasy
- Run time : 80 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody violence, pervasive language, and crude sexual references throughout
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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