Red Eye (2005)
Lisa Reisert: Rachel McAdams
Jackson Rippert: Cillian Murphy
Joe Reisert: Brian Cox
Cynthia: Jayma Mays
William Keefe: Jack Scalia
Dreamworks presents a film written by Carl Ellsworth and directed by Wes Craven.
Running Time: 85 minutes
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence, and language.
Release Date: August 19, 2005
Review Date: February 4, 2006
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Wes Craven has proven time in and time out that he can make whatever he is working with entertaining. That element was proved to me when I had the misfortune to see Cursed. That movie was truly terrible, but I knew Wes Craven was putting his own fun spin on it when a werewolf took a moment to flip off the main characters.
Thankfully, Mr. Craven has a lot more to work with in Red Eye - a story about a woman with a fear of flying, whose being 35,000 above ground quickly becomes the least of her worries. Despite a long night at the airport, Lisa Reisert (McAdams) meets a rather charming and mysterious man (Murphy) who helps to ease her airline troubles. That is, until they wind up as seatmates on the same flight and Lisa learns what her new friend does for a living. "My business is all about you."
The task that Jack (the) Rippert gives Lisa is seemingly quite simple - call the hotel that she manages and have an important member of Homeland Security (Scalia) and his family moved to another room or else her father (Cox) will die. The intentions for Mr. Keefe's family being moved are obviously not kind, but what's a girl to do?
That's where Red Eye succeeds masterfully. Initially, you wouldn't think that too much can be "thrilling" about a film that's first two acts take place around and on an airplane. But Wes Craven doesn't have to splatter blood to remain one of the masters of suspense. (Although that doesn't mean he can't still have someone running around with a big butcher knife). And McAdams and Murphy are - as expected - as perfect as can be in their roles. Never once do they do anything that make a somewhat far-fetched situation seem far-fetched at all.
Red Eye is kept short and sweet, and finds a lot to work with in a very limited setting. The movie isn't perfect, but it's very well packaged and performed. Most importantly, Red Eye is a very engrossing and entertaining way to spend an hour and twenty-five minutes.
*** (out of ****)