Rating of
2.5/4
Creepy Flight Downed by Disappointing Ending
Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/11/16
Flight 7500 is directed by Takashi Shimizu - whose name many might not recognize, but he is the man behind Ju-On: The Grudge as well as American remake. Back in the early 2000s, there was quite the influx of Japanese horror (The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water, Pulse and many more) that spawned (usually) inferior American remakes. I think one of the reasons The Grudge films held up better was that Shimizu was involved. Which brings us to Flight 7500.
Originally scheduled for release in 2012 (as simply 7500) and boasting a decent cast with Amy Smart, Leslie Bibb, Ryan Kwanten, Jamie Chung, Scout Taylor-Compton and Christian Serratos among others, the film was hit by delays and didn't really get a proper U.S. release (though it did have some international debuts). I won't speculate as to the reasons, but I have been itching to watch this based on the talent both behind and in front of the camera. The film is based somewhat on true events (it's hard to get into details without spoiling everything) as an international flight from L.A. to Tokyo experiences a sudden death leading to series of strange encounters among the passengers and crew.
If you are looking for a horror film with lots of blood and gore - this one isn't for you. Flight 7500 takes a much more atmospheric approach - and like all good psychological horror, uses the setting to its advantage. When one is on a plane, there is nowhere to hide - and when events transpire that seemingly defy explanation, it brings people together. The characters are somewhat stock/cliche - moody, goth, stewardess in love with a pilot, thief, a couple pretending to be together, the neurotic wife - but at least the film tries to give each one something to distinguish them.
Shimizu tries to inject some of his innate Japanese culture into the mix with the Shinigami into the mix. And while the doll is super creepy, I don't know if the overall idea really fits here. Anyway, the foreboding atmosphere is nice, but it starts to unravel the further you get into the film until leading to a predictable yet unfulfilling ending. A lot of people are going to be disappointed with that final twist - because the trope has been used so many times before. It doesn't sink the film entirely, but the way it's handled (especially the final moment) just feels a bit lazy in my book.
Final verdict: if you like a slow burn horror, Flight 7500 isn't a bad choice. Stay for the interesting characters, but don't be surprised if you find it a bit too convenient the way things work out.
