“The Stunt Driver,” directed by Michael Dowse and starring Jay Baruchel, premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival and recounts the life of Canadian stuntman Ken Carter as he attempts an extreme rocket-car jump across the St. Lawrence River. The film frames Carter’s plan as both a high-stakes spectacle and a deeply personal gamble, mixing comedy and tragedy around the stuntman’s commitment to pulling off what he views as an impossible feat.
Both outlets describe the movie as a 1970s-inspired throwback that emphasizes retro energy and stunt craftsmanship. Dowse’s approach includes working with Baruchel and physically building a ramp and a rocket car for the production, underscoring the scale and danger of the endeavor. Variety highlights the film’s “warm-but-never-fuzzy” tone and its resonance with present-day concerns, while IndieWire focuses more on how the story mines both humor and stakes from Carter’s unwavering dedication.
Across coverage, outlets align on the central premise: Carter tries to jump about a mile across the St. Lawrence River in a rocket car, and the film delivers a stylized, period-evoking depiction of that attempt.
