Fight or Flight Review
Everyone loves a fun and campy action movie once in a while, depending on your own preferences. With recent films like Novocaine, Love Hurts, and Locked, there seems to be this wave of absurdly exciting concepts that work for the most part. This wave continues on with the directorial debut of James Madigan, who’s coming in hot with his feature film Fight or Flight.
As someone who’s previously seen bits and pieces, I was really curious given all the intensity, no-brakes stunts and also Josh Hartnett. Fortunately, if you’re looking for that one movie that’s hilarious as it is insane, then Fight or Flight will definitely satisfy you.
The film sees washed up agent Lucas Reyes (Josh Hartnett) being brought back into the hunting fold by his fixer, Katherine Brunt (Katee Sackhoff) to hunt the elusive Ghost. However, when his mission puts him on a flight filled with assassins, mercenaries, and gangs, Lucas must use his instincts and skills to extract the Ghost successfully.
If you’ve seen the trailers, then you’ve only gotten a taste of what Fight Or Flight really offers action-wise. Not a single punch is wasted and the intensity gradually increases with every situation Lucas finds himself in. From being beaten in a bathroom to being put in a Final Destination-esque situation with a bunch of clandestine fighters, every fight scene is really exciting to watch. However, expect the film to go from slightly gory to absolutely bloody as hell in a snap.
Every action sequence feels somewhat reminiscent of Bullet Train: some may be claustrophobic, but the camerawork keeps things constantly on the move. The editing and cinematography really go hand-in-hand to truly show how brutal Lucas can be, with some kills really going beyond the call. Huge props have to be given to Matt Flannery and Ben Mills for working with Madigan on such a tight budget.
Outside of the action, everyone’s performances really make Fight or Flight a fun watch when it’s not diluted by its thriller undertones. Josh Hartnett amplifies this sense of abrasive, pessimistic humor into the tired Lucas, always making the comedy land at the right times. In a way, he infuses that slight aggressiveness with a bit of sadism from Trap’s Butcher, knowing what happens but only looks out for himself. Hartnett takes the role to a whole new level, especially in one specific sequence later on that’s bizarre as it is bloody.
Hartnett’s chemistry with Sackhoff and Charithra Chandran’s Isha lends for some hilarious moments as well. Particularly, with Sackhoff’s Katherine, Lucas especially hates her and originally goes off on crazy rants that get some funny jokes about their relationship nailed in. On the other hand, Lucas and Isha’s pairing has its unique quirks: though the two work hand-in-hand, they’re not always seeing eye to eye.
That’s because of the story that Madigan, Brooks McLaren, D. J. Cotrona are working with Fight or Flight. In the first act or so, there are a few indicators to suggest that the Ghost is one of the mercenaries on the flight. However, when the plot twist kicks in, it does feel like it was already coming given some characters we’ve been acclimated to.
The motivations for said Ghost are also supposed to make us feel sympathetic for them. They did what they do to stop child labor for this high-tech company at any cost, being one of those children themselves. Throw in a few more surprising twists from Katherine’s parts of the narratives ranging from being predictable to being genuinely interesting and you’ve got a whole web to comprehend while Lucas goes nuts.
In the end, Fight or Flight is a crazy and wild thrill ride as Josh Hartnett and Katee Sackhoff deliver some awesome performances while Madigan successfully pushes the action to a higher extreme. Sure, its story might not be fully fleshed out to the degree that some might want for an action movie. However, it works well enough with Fight or Flight’s other elements to make it an entertaining experience.
Fight or Flight releases in theaters on May 9.
Rating: ★★★½
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.