Media Room’s coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival continues with The Stunt Driver, which premiered at TIFF September 10. It arrives in theaters today (September 25, 2026).
It’s a biopic about “Mad Canadian” Ken Carter who planned a jump over the St. Lawrence River and died on September 5, 1983 attempting to jump a pond in Peterborough, Ontario in a rocket-powered Pontiac Firebird.
On Wednesday I spoke with director Michael Dowse and actor Jay Baruchel (Ken Carter). Michael and Jay are Canadian and I began by apologizing for our president. They shared some kind words about Buffalo.
The Stunt Driver is filled with fine performances from Baruchel, Ed Helms (Dick Keller), Ben Foster (Evel Knievel), Laurence Leboeuf (Gloria), and Quebec native Marc Beaupré (Danny Lafortune), whom I singled out to Michael and Jay.
It is about a working class, French Canadian from the 1970s and includes many comedic moments, so it is unlikely to receive awards consideration. That is a shame, because The Stunt Driver is one of the best movies of 2026.
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