Red Eye

Directed by Wes Craven, Red Eye details the battle of wills that ensues between Rachel McAdams’ Lisa and Cillian Murphy’s Jackson after he essentially holds her hostage within a crowded aircraft. It’s an inherently compelling premise that’s employed to predominantly superb (and engrossing) effect by Craven, as the filmmaker, armed with Carl Ellsworth’s screenplay, delivers a briskly-paced endeavor that grabs the viewer’s interest and attention right from the get-go – with the deceptively low-key first act, which is focused mostly on the irresistible flirtation between McAdams and Murphy’s respective characters, paving the way for a surprising, propulsive narrative. It’s clear, certainly, that Red Eye‘s success is due in large part to the commanding efforts of its two leads, as both performers do a fantastic job of seamlessly seguing from the charm of the opening stretch to the terror of the rest – with, especially, Murphy’s magnetic, hypnotic work here elevating the proceedings on a recurring basis (ie he is, eventually, just so menacing). By the time the entertainingly (and unapologetically) larger-than-life final third rolls around, Red Eye has cemented its place as a top-notch thriller that doesn’t waste a single second of its 85 minutes.

***1/2 out of ****