Red Eye DVD Review:

After arriving just in time for her flight back home to Miami, Lisa (McAdams) finds out that the plane has been delayed. In the check-in line she meets Jackson (Murphy) and the pair strike up a conversation and share a drink in the departure lounge. When they actually get to board the plane, Lisa finds that her seat is actually next to Jackson but this is no coincidence because Jackson has a hidden agenda.

Horror master Wes Craven moves away from this favourite genre to bring us a psychological thriller but can he bring his trademark style to a new kind of movie?

The move from gore to suspense isn’t that big a leap for a director who is used to keeping the tension rate extremely high in all of his movies, Wes Craven brings you another kind of terror. Instead of blood soaked killings we have a premise that relies on the threat of violence than the actual act itself because this is a movie all about two people in a very small environment.

Taking place primarily on an airplane, the film is all about the interaction between the two main characters Lisa and Jackson. The tension builds as Jackson reveals his true intension for actually showing Lisa so much attention. This is when the film really takes off, as Jackson turns from an endearing, mild-mannered, friendly guy into a calculated, driven soldier who knows exactly what he needs to do to get the job done. With no weapon, his power comes from fear and the promise of a threat, that drives Lisa to do what he needs her to do. This is where the film works extremely well.

The film would be nothing without two competent actors bringing the main characters to life. Rachel McAdams is really starting to make an impact in Hollywood and as Lisa, as she brings both fear and determination to the character as the situation develops. This is a character that you might think is a usual silver screen victim but she soon turns into a strong female lead, which Wes Craven really likes to promote in most of his movies. Cillian Murphy proves again that he is an actor to watch. As Jackson, he creates a character that transforms from a charming nice guy into a man who will do anything to complete his assignment. This is another great part for Murphy, which he really gets to grips with. The rest of the cast really don’t get much of a look in but Brian Cox and newcomer Jayma Mays are the ones that really standout.

‘Red Eye’ is a psychological thriller that pushes the envelope for a while but then falls into clichéd. The reasons and people behind the plot are never really revealed and the finale falls back into the normal, run-of-the-mill thriller ending but this doesn’t spoil what has gone before. This makes the movie a tensioned filled thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat as soon as Jackson’s mission is revealed.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented extremely well.

BONUS FEATURES

Filmmaker’s Commentary
Director Wes Craven, producer Marianne Maddelena and editor Patrick Lussier come together to talk about the making of ‘Red Eye’. This informative and fun track reveals how they got involved in this very different project for the horror veterans and how the script drew them in. They talk extensively about casting and the characters of the piece and what it was like shooting in the confided space of a plane. This is a good commentary track from a master of the genre.

The Making of ‘Red Eye’ (11.38 mins)
Director Wes Craven, executive producer Mason Novick, production designer Bruce Miller, special visual effects supervisor Ron Bolanowski, writer Carl Ellsworth and stars Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Jayma Mays and Brian Cox take you behind the scenes of the making of the movie. The group talk about the script, take you onto the plane set, talk about the challenges of shooting in such close quarters and take you through the shooting of the airplane bathroom scene in this informative featurette.

Wes Craven: A new kind of Thriller (10.50 mins)
Director Wes Craven, executive producer Mason Novick, writer Carl Ellsworth and stars Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Jayma Mays and Brian Cox talk about moving into a different genre but injecting some of Wes Craven’s trademark horror into a thriller. The director and his cast and crew talk about creating a different kind of fear in such a small space with only two main characters. They discuss the strengths of the story, the casting of the piece and the actors reveal what it is like working with the horror master.

Gag Reel (6.29 mins)
Watch behind the scenes footage as the cast and crew make hashes of their lines and have fun on the set of ‘Red Eye’.

Preview
Watch the trailer for ‘Just Like Heaven’

OVERALL

With an excellent commentary track and informative and fun featurettes, DreamWorks has done a good job with the DVD transfer of ‘Red Eye’. Fans of the movie will be pleased as the bonus features offer an insight into how the horror master adapted to the change of genre.



Jamie Kelwick