FLIGHT RISK (2025)

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Mel Gibson
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, Topher Grace
Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins
Rating: NC16 (Coarse Language and Some Violence)
Released By: Encore Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 23 January 2025

Synopsis: In this high-stakes suspense thriller, Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg (Best Supporting Actor, The Departed, 2006) plays a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem.

Movie Review:

Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson stars together in a faith-based drama, Father Stu back in 2022. But for Flight Risk, they are collaborating on something entirely different. Something far more intense and suspenseful.

The plot by newcomer Jared Rosenberg is simple even barebones to a certain extent. U.S. Marshall Madolyn (Michelle Dockery from Downtown Abbey) is tasked to escort a witness, Winston (Topher Grace) to trial for doing some shady accounting for a mob boss. Madolyn and Winston has to board a small chartered plane to take them from Anchorage to the mainland. In comes Daryl Booth (Wahlberg), their pilot for the hour plus journey.

If you have not watched the trailer or prefer to walk into Flight Risk blindfold. I suggest you stop reading this review asap. I mean right now.

Because Mark Wahlberg plays a bald, psychotic hitman since we can’t have an action thriller without a bad guy.

Anyway, the movie kicks into high gear the moment the plane takes off across the Alaskan snowy wilderness. Booth might know how to pilot a plane but he is sure no ordinary pilot. In short, he is out to eliminate Winston and Madolyn. Winston on the other hand might be an ordinary corrupted accountant who just can’t keep his mouth shut. That leaves Madolyn. Is she a U.S. Marshall with a tortured past or is there more sinister backstabbing and happenings at her agency?

Despite the efficient runtime, Rosenberg’s script keep everyone guessing right till the end. Who is the actual bad guy? Is he who he is? Or is she who she is? Having set an entire movie in an enclosed tiny plane allows the tension heart-stopping action to take place in a straight forward manner. There are plenty of movies out there that showcased ridiculous crashes and bumps in the air (Con Air and Air Force One just to name a few) but we guarantee Flight Risk at least stay “grounded” for most of the running time.

Wahlberg is relentless as the psychotic villain. Finally, we get to see a different side of him on the big screen. His character is twisted and hints of being a serial murderer or killer. We truly love to see more of him in these sort of roles rather than a plain old heroic cop or agent. Michelle Dockery is surprisingly believable as a tough marshal and Grace is honestly not that bad in a supporting role.

The biggest credit got to go to Mel Gibson who is back in the directing chair after his award-winning Hacksaw Ridge. The man himself has starred in a couple of 90’s action movies and he for sure knows how to deliver an exciting action thriller without resorting to lots of unnecessary violence, shaky cam and choppy jump cuts.

Flight Risk delivers exactly what the title promises. It’s on par with a typical Jason Statham and Gerald Butler’s action flick even better than the recent Liam Neeson vehicles I must say. If you want a satisfying movie outing with your dad, then hop on to this flight. Seatbelts not included.

Movie Rating:

(Flight Risk is made for people who love the 80’s and 90’s action flicks)

Review by Linus Tee