Red Eye

Another hugely emancipated thriller that apologizes for the eighties and nineties, or possibly just for Lars von Trier. Notwithstanding the fatal plan of the main villain, the heroine this time is mainly concerned with humiliating the oppressor rather than killing him, as therapy for the involuntary buttfuck she took three years ago and carries with her in the form of a scar over her breast. Just see if it's not a bit of a disservice to demonstrate the supremacy of female inscrutability over male pragmatic logic by sticking him in the throat with a pen (mightier than the sword) and transitioning from the mode of a tightly-written dialogue thriller on the stage of an airplane seat (where the man has the upper hand) into a B-grade final showdown at a house in the suburbs (where the woman has the upper hand). As an added bonus, most of the female users' ratings are limited to the godliness of Cillian Murphy and his eyes. So I guess I don't know. (11/05/2013)

Although the direction is flawless, there are issues in the script, which in the end didn't avoid unsuccessful variations on classic genre clichés. Still, the director literally chips the tension out of more or less every shot and the work with the limited space of two seats on the plane is masterful and even the universally condemned ending doesn't lack proper gradation. Rachel McAdams sets herself up for a promising career as a pretty face with very developed acting potential, and Cillian Murphy already proved in Batman Begins that behind the face of an innocent-looking nice guy resides a villain of the heaviest caliber. It’s an absolutely minimized thriller from Phone Booth onwards, which would be perfect if it benefited from its originality throughout the entire runtime. Still, as it is, it’s a very above-average spectacle and many of its issues can be forgiven. (04/14/2006)

Craven still knows his stuff and I can’t wait for 25/8. The most interesting part of Red Eye takes place on the plane with the constant confrontation between the charismatic villain Cillian Murphy and the likeable Rachel McAdams. The final impression is brought down by the last half hour, but the culprit is the screenwriter and not Craven – I would have welcomed something harsher and more uncompromising. Otherwise, Red Eye is a pleasant and tense thriller that flows like water. (11/08/2008)

It's like seeing a modern-day Hitchcock. Pacing from start to finish, nervy and cynical humor for light relief, and most importantly a polished script that makes the most of everything in the end. Every minor character, even briefly introduced, and other aspects like the renovated house or the mention of a knife or a sport... Nothing is extraneous, everything makes sense sooner or later; it’s just great. The part on the plane is very suspenseful, the part after the plane is again somehow tense, and I didn't find the ending at all out of place with what preceded it. Indeed, I was again reminded of the finales of Hitchcock films, which often took place in a different setting from the rest of the film, and nobody minded. (07/19/2020)

It’s not far from a fourth star. The first hour Craven carries it off with absolute clarity. The whole action on the plane, supported by the claustrophobic atmosphere and the seemingly hopeless situation of the main character (a very charming McAdams) is impressive and suspenseful, but unfortunately once the action moves to Lisa's house for the last 10 minutes or so, the tension is lost, with predictability and a bit of that genre cliché coming in. Another shame is the short runtime (73 minutes without credits). But beware, when God was handing out villainous charisma to future actors, Cillian Murphy went for five, he's the main reason this thriller is worth watching. I've been more and more interested in this guy since Batman Begins. (03/23/2006)