Dir Wes Craven

Written by Carl Ellsworth, Dan Foos

Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox, Jayma Mays, Jack Scalia.

On her way home from her grandmother’s funeral, Lisa (McAddams) a luxury hotel manager befriends the charming Jackson (Murphy) at the airport, and soon finds herself sitting next to him on her red eye flight home. However, once in the air he reveals himself to be in a group of individuals who want to assassinate a politician (Scalia) who is staying in her hotel.

There is some solid direction from Craven, who utilises the settings within the ‘three act’ schedule. Act three which is set in the airport, and Lisa’s house is done quite well, with some solid action sequences, as well as some big moments in her workplace hotel. Act two is done very well, with the claustrophobic plane moments, including a fight scene in a bathroom stall.

Quick paced, and at a trim 80m uses every minute efficiently – with each act (airport, plane and the finale). McAdams does a good job at the lead role, but she is outshined by Murphy who does a brilliant job as the first very charming, to the brutal and intimidating Jackson (at time of scheduling this review he just won his first Oscar for Oppenheimer.) Cox feels a little underused throughout, but gets a decent moment in the third act.

The screenplay works well for what it is trying to do, and is paired with a great score from Craven’s Scream collaborator Marco Beltrami. It has some ‘thriller’ moments, as well as being as fast paced as the rest of the film.

Very easy to watch, and a recommend from me

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