Starring: Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy
Director: Wes Craven
Rated: M15+
RED Eye is a film that delivers exactly what it promises – very entertainingly so.
If you would like a suspense drama, try this film.
It is directed by Wes Craven, better known for Nightmare on Elm St and Scream.
This time he has turned away from horror, although in the second part, he capitalises on his skills as the strong heroine confronts the intruder in her house.
This Red Eye is a flight from Dallas to Miami. The passenger is Lisa (the vivacious Rachel McAdam), a manager at a luxury hotel.
It is better not to spoil the suspense but simply to say that the plot draws on the war against terrorism and leads us on step by step as Lisa tries to deal with the crises.
She uses her wits (even though she is not keen of flying) to try to foil the plot and shows a remarkable amount of good sense and energy.
Brian Cox is her father, central to the plot.
Also starring is Cillian Murphy, whose career is on the rise. After appearing in a diverse range of films from 28 Days Later to Girl With the Pearl Earring, he was the young villainous doctor in Batman Begins.
In his latest performance, he may become the versatilie Gary Oldman of the next generation.
While the plot is contemporary, Red Eye is something of a satisfying old-time suspense thriller that keeps moving rapidly, close-up while on board the plane, pacy editing while on land.
Even though the film is under 90 minutes long, it establishes characters, motivations and covers all its plot strands credibly.
