Review of Red Eye (2005) by Scotte. — 26 Aug 2005

This movie had all the underpinnings of a classic Hitchcock flick but didn't deliver the results. Sure, it seemed like a made-for-TV movie at times, but you have to admit that you're suspending your belief for a fun ride at the matinee.

There was a point in this movie where I respected Wes Craven's savvy on an artistic level as the main villian started to pursue the protagonist with dogged persistence. It went through 15 minutes where the bad guy was stepping into the room, was behind the shower curtain, was behind the unlocked door, was right next to the answering machine, etc.

My girlfriend kept rubbing her hands on her knees nervously and kept yelping at all of the twist and turns. That's my kinda date movie, ya know? I enjoyed this movie experience because Rachel McAdams, the main heroine with such a lovable personality, was so adept at adapting to the different suspenseful events.

I'm not saying that Wes Craven was struggling to adapt his vision to an acceptable PG-13 movie, but it seemed evident that he was straining his creative influences to release a movie that would be acceptable to a mass audience.

Sure, it's understandable that there were major holes in the plot that you can drive a semi-truck through. But the fun-loving, playful attitude from this movie made it so easily digestible that it doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

And whatever the critics might say, I have to admit that having a combatitive heroine who saves the day makes this the kind of film that I'm willing to pay good money to see in the cinema. I hope that others can appreciate my perspective.

While I agree that head-butts and violence against women are not appreciated, I understand that the visceral pleasure of seeing the good girl get her revenge was worth the price of admission to this PG-13 movie.

Let me know if you agree.