**Cillian Murphy’s Underappreciated 2005 Thriller: “Red Eye”**
It’s rather difficult not to admire actor Cillian Murphy — at least, that’s our perspective. Whether he’s sporting a mustache in a neglected 2016 action-comedy alongside Brie Larson or delivering performances that would earn Academy Awards in films like Christopher Nolan’s 2024 historical masterpiece “Oppenheimer,” we’re generally inclined to pay attention if his name appears in connection with a film. So upon discovering an underappreciated 2005 psychological thriller featuring the actor available for free streaming, we simply had to drop everything and give it a watch.
The 2005 film “Red Eye” represents the collaboration of horror film legend Wes Craven with Murphy and “Mean Girls” star Rachel McAdams, potentially giving viewers another reason to fear air travel. While critics might favor this feature more than the general audience, this 85-minute adrenaline rush is certainly worth watching for fans of Murphy or McAdams, and the film even garnered nominations for Murphy and McAdams at the 2006 Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress, respectively.
Interestingly, even though we believe the film deserves your attention, Cillian Murphy might hold some ambivalence toward the project. In a 2005 interview with GQ Magazine, the actor was perhaps a bit too candid, stating, “I love Rachel McAdams and we had fun making it, but I don’t think it’s a good movie. It’s a good B movie.” Nevertheless, if “Red Eye” doesn’t resonate with you, we have other fantastic performances by Murphy that you can explore.
**Cillian Murphy Soars in 2005’s “Red Eye”**
There are numerous free streaming platforms and applications when you’re uncertain about what to watch, but what’s nice about “Red Eye” is its easy availability on YouTube, making it simple to catch. Helmed by Wes Craven, the mastermind behind the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream” franchises, “Red Eye” is perfect for a rainy day or for taking a well-deserved break between binge-watching your favorite streaming shows.
“Red Eye” centers on Lisa Reisert (McAdams), a hotel manager embarking on a late-night flight to Miami, Florida. After a weather delay, she unexpectedly encounters Jack Rippner (Murphy) in an airport bar. Once on board, the overly charismatic Rippner discloses to Reisert that he requires her assistance in executing a high-profile assassination. Unfortunately for Reisert, Rippner possesses just the leverage he needs to coerce her into complying. Along with McAdams and Murphy, “Red Eye” features performances by Brian Cox and Jayma Mays, among others.
On Rotten Tomatoes, “Red Eye” boasts an 80% Tomatometer score and a 64% Popcornmeter score. In a review for Stream on Demand, critic Sean Axmaker remarks that “horror pop-meister Wes Craven demonstrates adeptness at creating a simple, direct, surprisingly effective thriller with minimal gimmicks.” Besides being able to view this one for free with ads on YouTube, “Red Eye” is also available for streaming on Starz and Paramount+.