04/08/06 Red Eye

Red Eye (2005), directed by Wes Craven

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Record Exchange) @ home

Wes Craven has done some goofy stuff, and he has also done some of the most chilling horror movies of at least my time here on this Earth. He likes to balance that fine line it seems in his later works...sometimes blatantly hopping back & forth over it. If nothing else, he has gotten the entertaining popcorn aspect of moviemaking down to a science. This is most evident in his "Scream" trilogy, as well as here in "Red Eye." From the start the story makes no attempts at being the most intelligent suspense thriller you've ever seen, and it pushes forward on the sheer basis of mindless entertainment. Rachel McAdams plays young ritzy hotel manager Lisa who, although afraid of flying, must hop a jet to her grandmother's funeral & back in time for an important government official to be a guest in her hotel. However, plans go horribly awry when she meets the dashing and devious Jackson Rippner (ha ha, really it's Cillian Murphy...freaky enough looking without the evil name) who soon becomes her worst nightmare. Jackson basically takes Lisa captive of her fears, threatening to kill her father if she doesn't help him in an attempt to murder said government official. You can imagine what a bumpy ride it's about to be. We as an audience must fully realize that the plot is ridiculous in nature, but probably not too far from actually happening. It's just silly fun, not even all that scary, just back & forth manipulating and action. Plus, it is nice to see McAdams not only kick some ass here, but also stand well in a role that is usually filled by a male actor. She is a woman of substance and grittiness, not the typical damsel in distress (example, when she does fall when chased in her high heels...it doesn't stop her...it affords the opportunity to stab the bad guy with the heel of the shoe). Try that on for size Harrison Ford.

3 out of 5 stars