MovieChat Forums > Flight Risk (2025) Discussion > Just watched; my thoughts (NO SPOILERS)

Just watched; my thoughts (NO SPOILERS)


I left the theaters about 25-30 mins ago and started writing this one

The movie isn't as bad as many critics say. I think Wahlberg does a fine job, as smooth and natural on-screen as he always is; and I like the lead actress who plays Agent Harris. The movie essentially takes place in one location (the plane), which might sound dull; but the pacing is well-done. I got reminded of movies like Panic Room and Phone Booth. In between the dueling with Wahlberg's character, the lead actress talks via satellite phone / radio with the US Marshall's office as well as a pilot who guides her: those parts are actually entertaining too. The radio-pilot (named Hasaan) has some charming lines, and the plot thread with the US Marshal's office adds another layer of suspense

That said -- it's still a very flawed movie. The premise requires large suspension of belief, and the plot follows a safe and predictable route that we've seen hundreds of times. All of the twists in this movie are poor; we can see those twists coming from a mile away. And while I like Walhberg and Dockery in their roles, I think that Topher Grace (the informant character) is not good. He displays some very poor acting at times. His character also inserts far too many comedic lines and moments, which broke up the tone. The movie involves two people trapped in a decrepit plane, surrounded by the desolate and harsh Alaskan mountains, with no pilot to steer the plane; yet somehow, the film atmospherically fails to convey the sense of dread and horror that you'd expect

And lastly - Wahlberg sports a balding hairstyle to make his character look creepier, I guess. But I thought this detail was poorly done. As soon as his character's toupee falls off, we actually can see that Wahlberg has a perfect hairline; he merely shaved the top of his head. The filmakers should have used some cosmetics to cover his hairline and make his look more realistic

5.5/10

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I more or less agree, though I guess I'm a bit more positive. I thought it was fine, a fun little thriller. The best parts about it are that it's very well made and well directed, and it's not common to see a film like this get made with such direction.

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Just seen it myself and it completely fails as a one-location suspense thriller and it's mostly really boring apart from the occasional bit of daftness from Marky Mark.

3/10

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Parts of this movie worked when Mark Wahlberg was unconscious and it was just those other two talking. I thought the landing sequence was really well shot too, but it's the only moment where the Mel who directed Braveheart kicks in. Unfortunately, the thriller elements were the weakest points of the movie for me. I do think most of the issues were more at a screenplay level than directing level, but Mel still should've known better. Also, that cold open was ATROCIOUS. What was Mel thinking with that awful CGI moose with human eyeballs???

4/10 for me

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