So, I borrowed these two movies from my co-worker.
And they both so happen to be thrillers set aboard an airplane.
While Flightplan was predictable, Red Eye was not. Or, at least, not as much. The movie takes turns that leave your heart pounding. I would expect nothing less from Wes Craven. It's also very tight. I highly priase how the movie sets up the situation so quickly yet so effectively.
And there's more than a little female empowerment in here. There was in Flightplan too, but that was about a mother's love for her child. This is about facing demons, both outer and inner, that could jeopardize survival.
The acting was a little wooden. Cillian Murphy takes yet another turn as a bad guy, and he always sounds, and looks, like a robot programmed for evil. And none of the supporting cast was very convincing. Colby Donaldson from Survivor fame was the lead security agent for the Homeland Security dude.
Rachel McAdams was the only convincing actor; she's really the heart of the movie. She was believable even when the other actors were not.
All in all, I give the movie an 8 out of 10. Minor flaws but otherwise very good.
The test: will she buy it? The answer: it's unlikely. There's not that much suspense that can withstand repeat viewings. A Wes Craven fan might want it, but I can't be called a fan - I have only passing interest and don't own a single one.