Fight or Flight (2025) - Film Review

      Fight or Flight, 2025.

      Directed and Written by James Madigan.

      Featuring Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff, Marko Zaror, Julian Kostov, Charithra Chandran, JuJu Chan Szeto, Sanjeev Kohli, Rebecka Johnston, Nóra Trokán, Sarah Lam, Irén Bordán, Danny Ashok, Willem van der Vegt, Jyuddah Jaymes, Declan Baxter, Bálint Adorjáni, Melissa Bale, and Hughie O’Donnell.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A mercenary is tasked with locating a target aboard a plane but finds herself needing to safeguard them when surrounded by adversaries intent on their deaths.

      In Fight or Flight, debut writer/director James Madigan infuses a captivating premise with just enough close-quarters action to create excitement and mitigate some of the narrative and expository awkwardness that can occasionally detract from the film's appeal.

      Lucas Reyes, played by Josh Hartnett, is a mercenary cast out from an unnamed agency and marked as an unredeemable psychopath, spending his days in Bangkok. He unexpectedly discovers a new sense of purpose, aiming to sober up and complete a mission that could give him a fresh start. The catch is that this chance arises from Katherine Brunt, his former field and life partner, portrayed by Katee Sackhoff, who is now saved in his contacts under a highly derogatory name. Nevertheless, she promises to arrange for his passport and lift his no-fly restriction if he swiftly goes to the airport and boards a flight allegedly carrying a dangerous hacker known as the Ghost, who has developed a device that could lead to widespread electronic catastrophe. His orders are to bring her back alive.

      Unbeknownst to him, the aircraft is filled with assassins aiming to eliminate the Ghost, while a bounty has also been placed on Lucas’ head. This sets the stage for several bloody confrontations that are mostly well-choreographed, showcasing fierce momentum and editing that aligns with the rhythm of the action, further intensified by brutal kills. Madigan cleverly recognizes the absurdity of the premise, maintaining a comedic tone as the staff fulfill the needs of VIP passengers amidst the chaos, while the pilots are absurdly thrilled at the prospect of executing an emergency landing that could make them heroes like Sully (a character Tom Hanks later portrayed in a film directed by Clint Eastwood).

      Moreover, Madigan avoids allowing the story to devolve into a tedious and predictable mystery concerning the Ghost's identity. Lucas quickly identifies the individual once he grasps the serious nature of the situation, leading to them being handcuffed to a deceased person or temporarily teaming up with him to fight for survival. In another outrageous twist, the Ghost is also supported by an all-female team of martial artists skilled with lethal weapons (with JuJu Chan Szeto as their leader), adding diversity to the combat styles and methods of dispatching foes.

      However, as the fight sequences in Fight or Flight escalate in scale and gore, particularly towards the climax, disappointing digital blood-splatter effects begin to muddle the visuals. While the absurdity of how a chainsaw ended up on the plane is inconsequential in a film like this, the poor effects during the dismemberment and bloodshed detract from what could have been impactful moments, especially compared to watching Josh Hartnett and stunt performers engage in intense physical sequences.

      Despite these shortcomings, the action remains entertaining and is certainly less frustrating than the lengthy segments away from the plane that delve into Lucas’ agency and the backstage politicking. Strangely, the film occasionally takes itself a bit too seriously when exploring the Ghost's motivations and the purpose of the device. Fortunately, this is not overly problematic, as Madigan generally keeps the focus on the "fight" element of the film's title.

      While Fight or Flight could benefit from a bit more action and less dialogue, the tense chaos on display is appealing, complemented by a cast enjoying the experience. Josh Hartnett's natural charisma aligns with the film’s cartoonish tone, making his enjoyment infectious.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is affiliated with the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Reviews Editor at Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.