Red Eye: A Thrilling Flight to Miami

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A Suspenseful Thriller Above the Clouds

After attending her grandmother’s funeral in Dallas, Lisa Reisart (Rachel McAdams), the competent manager of the Lux Atlantic Hotel, is stranded at the airport waiting for her red-eye flight back to Miami. Calm, resourceful, and self-assured, Lisa juggles worried calls from her father and hotel staff, while befriending fellow travelers—including the charming but mysterious Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy).

The tension escalates when Lisa boards the flight, only to discover Jackson is not the man he seemed. Trapped in a confined airplane with a dangerous stranger, Lisa’s courage, intelligence, and quick thinking are pushed to the limit as she navigates moral dilemmas, high stakes, and sheer survival.

Claustrophobia and Character Tension

Director Wes Craven breaks from his usual horror fare to craft a psychological thriller that thrives on suspense rather than gore. The majority of Red Eye takes place on the airplane, creating an intense, claustrophobic environment. Tight camera angles and close-ups amplify the tension, making viewers feel every moment of Lisa and Jackson’s interaction.

Both Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy excel in their roles. McAdams convincingly balances self-assurance with vulnerability, while Murphy delivers a chillingly unpredictable antagonist. Their performances anchor the film, turning what could have been a typical thriller into a compelling study of human resilience under pressure.

Plot Quirks and Minor Weaknesses

While the film is largely successful, it isn’t without flaws. Certain plot points—like airport hide-and-seek chases, easy getaway vehicles, and conveniently lost cell signals—require suspension of disbelief. Nevertheless, these occur after a tense, riveting first hour, and don’t substantially diminish the film’s overall suspense.

Screenwriter Carl Ellsworth, known for work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena: Warrior Princess, makes a brief cameo in the film as an awake passenger during the final row of sleeping travelers. This nod underscores the meticulous attention to character placement and detail that elevates the narrative.

Miami as a Character

Miami plays a subtle yet essential role in Red Eye. The final third of the film occurs in the city, with scenes at Miami International Airport and the Lux Atlantic Hotel providing critical backdrops. Lisa’s tense cat-and-mouse sequences at the airport, combined with her flight from the terminal to a car and then her father’s home, make Miami feel immediate and lived-in.

The Lux Atlantic Hotel penthouse sequences were filmed at The Continuum condominiums in Miami Beach, whose balcony views and interior decor evoke the elegance and drama of Lisa’s world. A painting by Palmetto Bay artist Marcelle Zanetti, featured in the film, adds a touch of local culture and authenticity. Even brief glimpses of the city’s skyline and waterways provide relief after the claustrophobic flight sequences, grounding the thriller in a recognizable South Florida setting.

Director and Legacy

Wes Craven, famed for Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street, successfully experiments with a tighter, suspense-driven narrative. By focusing on psychological tension instead of gore, Red Eye offers a fresh take on thriller conventions. Craven’s attention to realism—such as respecting physical constraints aboard the airplane—enhances viewer immersion.

Red Eye won the Teen Choice Award for Choice Thriller and remains a notable entry in Craven’s career for its sleek, high-stakes portrayal of terror, set against the backdrop of Miami’s glamour and urban infrastructure.

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Editor’s Note: Originally published on October 9, 2007, this article was updated in 2026 for clarity while preserving TampaFilmFan’s original voice and perspective on Miami culture.

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