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Red EyeClaudia PuigIt's hard to imagine that Red Eye, in which a passenger is terrorized by her seatmate, will end up as the in-flight movie any time soon. But frequent fliers who catch this suspense thriller will be impressed by how well it captures the tedium of airport delays and the protracted, exhausting ordeal that air travel has become. The psychological horror elements might seem a bit far-fetched, but they're fun to watch because of the strong performances of Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy and the claustrophobic manner in which classic horror film director Wes Craven has shot the film. McAdams is Lisa, an efficient hotel manager who travels regularly for work but hates to fly. Before boarding a late-night flight to Miami, she makes the acquaintance of Jackson (Murphy), a charming, if mysterious, business flier. She joins him for a drink and tells him about her family. He's a good listener but reveals little about himself. As it turns out, Lisa's assigned seat is next to Jackson's. When her nerves get the better of her during take-off, Jackson politely gets Lisa talking. Relieved and grateful, she interprets his efforts as thoughtful. They are anything but. Fear of flying is nothing compared with the panic that comes over her as she learns Jackson's real identity and the part he wants her to play in his villainous plans. While they're on the plane, Red Eye is tense, smart and nerve-wracking, though not quite terrifying. The close quarters heighten the movie's tension. McAdams plays her role with a blend of vulnerability and courage. The Irish-born Murphy pulls off a convincing American accent and a menacing manner. Consequently, the first hour is entertaining and scary. But once the plane touches land, things go downhill. The movie devolves into a by-the-book action flick. There are some highly unlikely slip-ups by Jackson. Even harder to swallow are the nearly superhuman maneuvers by Lisa, who has endured Jackson's abuse and then turns the tables. Unfortunately, Red Eye goes from being a powerful thriller to a far more predictable story of revenge.
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