Set in the mid-1970s, The Stunt Driver tells the story of Ken Carter (Jay Baruchel), a Canadian stunt driver who conquered the world with his desire to entertain audiences. However, to truly leave an impressive legacy, Carter devises a plan to do what many consider to be impossible. Assembling a team to help him build a rocket car, Carter dreams of jumping the mile-long waters across the St. Lawrence River. With glory in his sights, Carter will do battle with his personal demons as he also attempts to defy the laws of physics.
Directed by Michael Dowse, The Stunt Driver accelerates to remarkable speeds but never leaves the viewer behind. Led by a career-best performance by Baruchel, Driver manages to both entertain the viewer while also engaging them emotionally. Despite the heightened world that Carter lives within, Dowse keeps the film simple by focusing his lens on the man instead of the mission itself. Even though the film’s narrative push remains focused on the impossible jump, its heart and soul remains the person behind the wheel.
As such, it’s Baruchel who keeps the film firmly on the road. Though he’s largely known as a comedic actor, Driver allows him to bring a gravitas (and, arguably, sadness) to the role of Carter that kicks the film into overdrive. Yes, the film allows him to bring a silliness to the character in moments but never in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. Baruchel wants us to see Carter as a man of inescapable vision who struggles with what seems to be inevitable failure.
In short, Carter never feels anything but human.
There’s something entirely relatable about this particular character that highlights man’s inability to overcome his own failings. Like Icarus flying too close to the sun, Carter refuses to be denied, even at the expense of those who have remained faithful to him. There’s a recklessness that seems to fuel his work and we can’t take our eyes off of it.
The Stunt Driver is playing at TIFF ’26. For more information, click here.
