High-octane action movies that lean into their own absurdity are always a treat—especially when they come packed with blood-splattered set pieces and just enough plot to justify the chaos. If you’re a fan of films like “Novocaine” or “Bullet Train”, then “Fight or Flight” might just be your new favorite cult gem.
Directed by James Madigan (a seasoned second unit director stepping into the spotlight), “Fight or Flight” is a gloriously over-the-top action thriller that takes place almost entirely on a commercial flight.
Josh Hartnett stars as Lucas Reyes, a bleached-blond, former CIA agent living in exile in Thailand. But when his ex-flame and ex-colleague Katherine Brunt (Katee Sackhoff) calls up with a mission, Reyes is pulled back into the game.
The mission? Find a notorious hacker-terrorist known as “The Ghost” aboard a flight from Bangkok to San Francisco. Sounds simple—until Reyes realizes the plane is loaded with assassins, all with the same goal: eliminate him and capture the Ghost to get the bounty. What follows is a bloody, bonkers 16-hour flight full of midair brawls and more bruises per minute than an MMA cage match.
Madigan makes a strong directorial debut here, showing off a real talent for capturing dynamic, close-quarters combat. Fight scenes are fast, physical, and cleverly choreographed to use the plane’s layout—galley kitchens, tray tables, even the First Class bathroom stalls become arenas for head-puncturing violence. Credit also goes to production designer Mailer Santana and cinematographer Matt Flannery, who somehow make a set-built aircraft feel like a lived-in, ever-moving battleground.
The handheld camera work is used smartly, simulating turbulence as every new fight sequence feels like the plane’s under attack from the weather and the dozens of assassins on the hunt.
Hartnett leans into the B-movie ridiculousness of it all with the perfect mix of deadpan humor and physical comedy. There’s a particularly unhinged sequence where Reyes accidentally drinks a mystery chemical mid-fight and starts hallucinating. His reaction? He assumes it’s just adrenaline and rides the high. The result is funny, unpredictable, and totally in step with the movie’s wild tone.
Reyes isn’t a particularly complex character, but Hartnett’s charisma and weary swagger give him just enough dimension. He’s not trying to save the world—he just wants off the plane, a new passport, and to drink in peace.
The screenplay, from Brooks McLaren and DJ Cotrona, doesn’t always know what to do between fight scenes. The Ghost is revealed early, which kills some narrative tension, and there’s a long stretch of exposition about a supercomputer that’s supposedly powerful but mostly serves as a MacGuffin.
And honestly? That’s fine.
Tonally, “Fight or Flight” never takes itself too seriously, and that’s a huge part of the appeal. It knows it’s ridiculous. It wants you to laugh at the logistics of a full-on brawl in economy class while the beverage cart rolls by. It’s the kind of movie you want to see with a crowd, in a theater, where the collective gasps and laughs make it all the more enjoyable.
So when people say “cinema is dead” because they’re bored of sequels and CGI sludge, point them to “Fight or Flight”. It’s scrappy, it’s stylish, and it knows exactly what it’s doing.
If you’re in the mood for a wild ride, don’t overthink it—just board the plane and enjoy the turbulence.
Letter Grade: B