Red Eye

Will keep you awake, jittery and perched on the edge of your seat for pretty much the entire flight.

The casting of the two leads is a nice surprise in Red Eye, as is its modest scale. One of the ironies about the film is that its relatively small-movie feel allows Mr. Craven to focus on the sorts of things - the performances and little bits of business from the extras - that a director like Michael Bay doesn't have time for, partly because he is so busy blowing stuff up.

Favoring precision filmmaking over cheap thrills, with a vibe more Alfred Hitchcock than Freddy Krueger, Red Eye establishes two intelligent characters and lets audiences sit back and enjoy an entertaining battle of brains and wills.

A terrific thriller...until it turns into yet another Wes Craven movie.

If you're willing to suspend disbelief, this is a pretty good ride.

Unfortunately, Red Eye goes from being a powerful thriller to a far more predictable story of revenge.

A one-trick action thriller that feels like a poor cousin of an episode of ''24." Call it ''12."

Engaging in plot and simple in its intensity, Red Eye is terrifying and absorbing simultaneously, hammering at the audience without remorse. Bravo, Wes Craven.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Red Eye is a solid thriller that builds tension well, especially in its first act. The slow-paced setup allows for strong character introductions, but it does feel like Rachel McAdams' character should have picked up on Cillian Murphy's unsettling presence sooner. The second act loses some momentum, with certain scenes dragging more than necessary, but Wes Craven's direction keeps the suspense alive. The final act is where the movie really kicks into gear, delivering a satisfying climax. The script does a good job of balancing psychological tension with action, though some moments require a suspension of disbelief-especially regarding in-flight conversations that seemingly go unnoticed by passengers. Cinematography is straightforward but effective, using tight framing to enhance the claustrophobic feel of the setting. Cillian Murphy brings an eerie, controlled intensity, while McAdams carries the film well with a believable performance. The supporting characters don't add much, and the film occasionally misdirects attention to elements that don't pay off. The score complements the suspense but isn't particularly memorable. While not groundbreaking, Red Eye is an entertaining, well-crafted thriller that works best when it leans into its psychological tension rather than its action.

A simple premise for a movie, but executed quite well due to it's well-paced screenplay.

If you ask someone what the most typical thriller movie ever made is, Red Eye should certainly be in contention. Fortunately, a requisite to be the most typical thriller ever made is that the film must be thrilling. Red Eye is certainly that. Director Wes Craven knows how to elicit fears and thrills along the way in this straight forward thriller. The acting is spotty, though never outright bad. The first half of the film is very cheesy and kind of silly, while the second half really finds its groove and, though kind of outlandish, is truly thrilling. This obviously makes the second half far superior, even if the dialogue can be in-and-out between solid and terrible. Essentially what I am trying to communicate here is simple: only thriller fans need apply. Red Eye's typical nature and adherence to cliches will annoy many, but for fans of the genre, its taut thrills and tight plot will be more than satisfactory.