I recently watched the thriller Hijack, and I was amazed by the intense situations the Idris Elba character found himself in. There were so many plot twists that, honestly, they left me a bit dizzy. But the tension kept me glued to the screen. Interestingly, a similar atmosphere is present in the new British thriller Red Eye, now streaming on Hulu.
Red Eye: Should you stream it or give it a pass?
Opening Scene: We’re greeted with a rainy night in Beijing. A man is forcefully expelled from a nightclub, and during the chaos, security guards pummel the window of his car. Wounded, he crashes into a barrier and stumbles away.
Main Points: At Heathrow, Dr. Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage) is stopped by immigration authorities. Confused about why he’s being detained, he isn’t very cooperative. Eventually, he learns he’s been accused of causing the death of a girl who had recently returned to China.
Simultaneously, MI5’s deputy director, Madeline Delaney (Lesley Sharp), receives a call from her Chinese counterpart, informing her that Nolan is under scrutiny because the young girl found in his car was the daughter of a high-ranking general. They’re eager to have him extradited and threaten crucial nuclear negotiations if the UK doesn’t comply. They also want the four individuals who were with Nolan that night.
DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi) is assigned to accompany Nolan back to Beijing. Despite being from Hong Kong, she hasn’t returned to mainland China since childhood due to personal history. Her boss thinks she is ideal for easing any “cultural” misunderstandings. When she mentions her assignment to her father and stepmother at his birthday party, they, along with her journalist sister Jess (Gemma Moore), seem taken aback.
Nolan, while being escorted to the flight, becomes frustrated and shouts about being held against his will. The incident quickly goes viral. Eventually, Li and the authorities manage to get him aboard the plane, and he sits near three of his four associates.
As the flight moves toward China, he insists that he wasn’t alone in the car and that he’s been wronged. Li, skeptical, starts to doubt his claims—for a while, at least, until he offers her a vegan meal.
Similar Show Vibes: Red Eye evokes memories of the Apple TV+ series Hijack.
Our take: If you’ve seen Hijack, you’ll have a sense of the direction Red Eye is heading, even if the specific plot developments are still unknown. In-flight, Nolan gradually tries to persuade Li of his innocence, but Jess and Delaney might uncover a larger conspiracy. Meanwhile, there are people onboard tasked with ensuring Nolan doesn’t make it to Beijing.
There are subplots, such as the tension between Hana and her family along with the mysteries surrounding her mother’s past in Hong Kong. Hana also shares a complicated relationship with her sister Jess. Delaney, on the other hand, struggles with a personal crisis at home. The connections among these characters are intriguing, providing deeper context to their choices as the series unfolds.
Lusi portrays her role with intensity, and it’ll be fascinating to see how her views on Nolan evolve as the lengthy flight progresses. By the end of the first episode, she seems to reconsider her stance, especially after experiencing Nolan’s thoughtful gestures. Armitage, as always, delivers a reliable performance as a privileged yet trapped individual, effectively depicting his frustration and humiliation.
The first episodes primarily set the stage for Nolan and Li’s journey on the plane.
Sex and Skin: None to report.
Final Scene: Nolan shows Li that his name appears on a meal tray belonging to the deceased man.
Notable Performance: Thomas Chernhing shines as the upbeat pilot, Chen, who accepts the possibility of carrying dangerous individuals without a hitch.
Most Unnecessary Plot Device: It’s unclear why Nolan and his colleagues are on the same flight, creating a sense of chaos meant to heighten tension.
Our Recommendation: Stream it. Sure, Red Eye has some absurd plot developments that resemble something out of a superhero story rather than a typical British thriller.
