“RED EYE” (2005)

Starring: Rachel McAdams & Cillian Murphy
Written by Carl Ellsworth (screenplay/story) & Dan Foos (story)
Directed by Wes Craven

Polly Staffle Rating: *

My girlfriend has a theory about whether a film is going to be good or bad by if and when the movie's title is mentioned in dialogue. If the title is referenced in the first thirty minutes, you are in trouble. It takes all of about six minutes for the title to be mentioned in “Red Eye” and her theory holds true for the rest of this crummy Wes Craven film.

I don't know what happened to Craven, but I am fully convinced he has lost his touch. Not only is this 76 minute-film not scary, it's more like a bad Harrison Ford thriller. There's no clever hook like the opening to “Scream,” there's no menacing villain like “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” there's no eerie atmosphere like “The People Under the Stairs.” Maybe he is passed his prime. Maybe he has mellowed as he has gotten older. He is 66. Or maybe he just needs to go back to writing his own material.

When I watch a Wes Craven movie I have high expectations. The guy has reinvented the horror genre three or four times already but maybe he is out of good ideas. So instead of shocking us and pushing the boundaries like he has in the past, Craven gives us a PG-13 movie with scary music. The score is easily the star of “Red Eye.” The music is real tense and loud. From the get go we know something bad is going down, but horrifying music doesn't make a scary movie. “Halloween” and “The Exorcist” are still scary films even if the whistling theme to “The Andy Griffin Show” is playing in the background. Near the end of “Red Eye,” the music tries really hard to convince you that you're watching a good film, but don't let it fool you.

“Red Eye” stars Rachel McAdams as Lisa on her way home to Miami after visiting Texas. At the airport she meets the absurdly named Jackson Rippner, played by Cillian Murphy (Jim from “28 Days Later”). They don't really hit it off, but they share drinks and a conversation while waiting for their flight. Upon boarding the plane, Lisa finds out Jackson is a psycho and he needs her to do something for him. That you probably already know if you saw the previews for this movie. Well, that's the best this film has to offer. It all goes down hill from there. I'll admit, there is a concept there that done right would work. The movie could start as a romantic comedy and have the two really get to know each other and then have the reveal, but we don't get that.

The reason Jackson holds Lisa hostage is extremely laughable. There is another character in the film that isn't on an airplane that could have done what Jackson wants done. But instead he does this elaborate scheme. And I'm not even sure what he wants done is even that necessary.

Take away the scary music, a telegraphed pen-stabbing scene, an unnecessary McAdams airport bra scene and a panty shot when she stumbles down some stairs and you've pretty much got a made-for-TV movie. Stick Andy Griffith in it as the villain and his whistling song at the beginning and you've got yourself a sure winner with the “Matlock” groupies. Don't worry, there's a part for Harrison Ford too. In fact, your guess is as good as mine as to why he isn't playing “the Harrison Ford part” in this movie. For good measure, let's let Angela Lansbury play Lisa. I guess the bra and panty scenes stay then. Since Craven is past his prime, get Ron Howard to direct and we might have an Oscar contender on our hands. Otherwise, you've got a movie that is just as boring as actually going to the airport and waiting for a flight. But not quite as scary.

- CCF, February 2006