DVD Review - Red Eye

Red Eye is Wes Craven's neat, tight and very short psychological thriller from the summer of 2005. The film had the feel of a good B or television movie and works very well on the small screen.

Rachel McAdams turns in a fine performance as Lisa, a driven hotel employee living in Miami. Her aim is to please the customer at any cost. She is on her way back from Dallas where she attended the funeral of her grandmother. Because of bad weather her flight has been delayed. While she is waiting on line to check in her baggage she strikes up a conversation with a "charming" young man devilishly played by Cillian Murphy. While waiting to board the flight Lisa decides to have a drink and who should she meet at the bar - you guessed it - Murphy's character who just happens to be named Jackson Rippner. When Lisa finally boards the plane guess who just happens to be sitting next to her - I don't even have to tell you because I am sure that you know who it is.

If all of this seems like a coincidence then you haven't seen many thriller movies. Jack is part of a network that wants the Deputy Chief of Homeland Security assassinated. The Deputy Chief and his family are scheduled to be at the hotel that Lisa works at at the same time the flight lands in Miami. Jack wants Lisa to change the room the Deputy Chief and his family are staying in so it will be easier for the assassination to take place. If Lisa doesn't comply then someone will kill her father.

There is no need to go further into the plot because that would spoil things for anyone who might read this. The character development is nil and we barely find out why Lisa has a scar on her chest. Although the plot is quite predictable I still found the film entertaining because of the action sequences and the acting of McAdams and Murphy. Brian Cox is wasted as Lisa's father in an almost throw away role. This is a movie that is like junk food- enjoyable while you are watching (or eating) it but very soon forgotten. But, it is a very tasty morsel.