Wardriver

For the layman, Wardriver/wardiving - is the act of searching for Wi-Fi wireless networks as well as cell towers, usually from a moving vehicle, using a laptop or smartphone (source Wikipedia).

Cole (Dane DeHaan) is one such wardriver roaming around a city in Utah searching for unsecured company networks and then stealing from them. He has a Robin Hood twisted ethic of not robbing individuals and then passing some of his loot to those less fortunate.

Unfortunately for Cole his earnings have come the attention of Oscar (Mamoudou Athie), who after a violent discussion and a crash course in cybercrime, makes Cole an offer he can’t refuse.

Oscar is a doorman at high end restaurant and it has come to his attention that a regular client Sarah (Sasha Calle) has $800k in her current account. Cole is the man to get it for him, his no individuals policy cutting no ice with Oscar plus he’s falling in love with Sarah. Cole steals the money but it doesn’t belong to Sarah rather a vicious criminal network putting her and Cole’s life in danger.

Trying to get the money back isn’t simple and further complicated by Cole’s online associates who aren’t as accommodating as he originally thought. Writer Daniel Cassey has concocted a clever script that director Rebecca Thomas has turned into a very watchable thriller.

Solid performances from the cast ensure that the plot moves forward and despite the frequently tech heavy dialogue that the viewer isn’t lost in cyberspeak.

The nighttime filming and city lights help to enhance the new-noir slickness of the thriller, that despite all the online shenanigans has a decent if unlikely developing plot.

That becomes less believable as it goes on as the various twists and turns are introduced. Nevertheless, it holds the attention for the duration of the film and is an assured feature film debut from Thomas.

Wardriver will be on digital platforms from 27 April.