Flight 7500 is not a movie I should have watched at this particular moment, but since I make good decisions, here goes. Directed by the creator of the Grudge franchise, Takashi Shimizu. It’s a tense, claustrophobic movie full of interesting character moments and creative camera angles that take advantage of the confined space. Just the thing to watch before I get on a flight across the world! 

• Directed by: Takashi Shimizu
• Written by: Craig Rosenberg
• Starring: Leslie Bibb. Ryan Kwanten. Amy Smart

The Plot

It also reminds me that I haven’t really reviewed Ju-On yet. The two stories have some similarities in theme, mostly focusing on the inability of the dead to move on. The paths these themes take between the two movies are wildly different however.

The interesting thing about Flight 7500 is that deep down it’s a character piece.  Yes, creepy supernatural things are happening. The impact of those things, however, is rooted in the complicated lives of the passengers. It’s an ensemble piece, but the main-ish character could be said to be Ryan Kwanten’s paramedic.  He’s smart, resourceful, and spends a lot of time trying to keep others alive.  

The Bait

The others, however, are not as morally upstanding as he is.  We have a selfish, just-married bride, a thief, and an adulterous pilot as probably the worst offenders. From there we have the B tier: a stewardess who’s sleeping with a married man, Suzy, another stewardess who’s conflicted about her life and future, and the bride’s miserable new husband. In short, it’s a plane full of unhappy people. We also get some nice shots of normal people, families on vacation, that sort of thing, but they don’t fit the theme, so they’re mostly there to enforce the horror. 

And then there is the man. His death kicks off all the supernatural incidents and plane malfunctions. He’s clearly wrong from the beginning, what with his creepy suitcase and bolero tie. His death is only the beginning as passengers start disappearing. While this may look like a simple haunting, the truth is much more complex. 

At one point, Ryan Kwanten’s character watches the plane episode of The Twilight Zone. It’s not just a bit of dark plane humor. It’s a nod to the inevitable twist that’s coming. 

Uneven Logic

Now, this isn’t a perfect movie—I need to deviate from the discussion of the theme a bit to get into some details here.  There are some leaps in logic where the passengers start working together for no real reason. It’s not as smooth as the narrative should be, but it moves the story along. There are other elements that seem like mistakes but just need time to be resolved, like the shrinking number of passengers on the plane. 

This is a hard move to resolve. Give too much away too early, and it ruins the impact of the ending; wait too long, and none of it makes much sense. Flight 7500 errs a bit on the waiting too long, although it does nail the creepy factor. 

In the end, the impact is still there. Jacinta, the punk girl too comfortable with death accepts her death willingly, not screaming or terrified. And right after, we understand what we’ve been watching. The hints are all there and are clearer in a rewatch. 

At this moment, Flight 7500 stops being horror and becomes a story about acceptance and peace in its final moments, how some people can embrace the inevitable and some never will. Denial is a powerful force, and it keeps one character trapped in purgatory.

If all this seems very vague and unclear, it’s because it is. I’m trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible because I did enjoy a lot of Flight 7500. It’s a great character piece and well-acted. It’s not 100% polished or perfect, but the brisk pace keeps it from lingering on the minor flaws. 

Final Thoughts

If you want something that’s more moody and atmospheric than gory, Flight 7500 may have a lot for you to enjoy. It’s not a typical horror movie, but I think that’s a highlight, not a negative. 

Ghoul’s note – I’m back from my world travels and although I’m posting this a week late, I desperately needed the time to rest.