August 20, 2005 -- “Red Eye” is a slick suspense thriller with no real surprises, but it is so well-made that it soars above other recent entries in this over-worked genre. Reminiscent of last year's fine film, “Collateral,” this film, too, features a person who is forced to participate in a crime against her will.

Rachel McAdams of “The Wedding Crashers” stars as Lisa Reisert, a hotel manager returning to Miami after attending a funeral. She strikes up a conversation with a charming young man, Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy of “Batman Begins”) who occupies the seat next to her on a long-delayed flight. After the jetliner finally roars aloft, Rippner finally reveals his true nature. He is working for terrorists who plan to assassinate a high-ranking government official. He wants Lisa to arrange for the targeted official's reservation to be switched from his customary room to a penthouse room in Lisa's hotel so the waiting terrorists can get a clear shot at the official. If she doesn't do as Rippner asks, his associate will kill Lisa's father.

Lisa tries various methods to get a message to other passengers or the flight crew about the assassination plot. She also tries to get messages to government officials and to her father, but Rippner seems ready to counter all of her attempts. Rippner is both clever and determined to succeed. He seems to have thought of everything. But Lisa is also clever and determined not to be a pawn in the terrorist plot. This cat and mouse game plays out for much of the movie. Just when you think it is over, there is a whole extra chapter of suspense, ratcheting up the tension even higher.

The film, ably helmed by veteran horror director Wes Craven, is very polished. The movie reflects Craven's penchant for having fun with audience expectations in popular film genres (as he did in “Scream”). The lead actors are very effective, ably supported by Brian Cox of “The Bourne Supremacy,” who plays Lisa's father, and newcomer Jayma Mays, who plays a harried hotel assistant manager having an absolutely terrible day. In addition to all the suspense, there is some effective humor in the story too. The screenplay, by Carl Ellsworth and Dan Foos, is lean and powerful. This film, and “Cellular” rank among the best suspense films released in the last year. Neither of these two movies is as good as “Collateral,” which transcends the genre, but both are exceptionally well-crafted genre films. “Red Eye” rates a B.

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Copyright © 2005 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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