2025   Lionsgate

Rated:  R

Length:  1 hr  31min

Action ~ Crime ~ Drama ~ Thriller

Directed by:  Mel Gibson

Starring:  Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace.

Y’all Need A Pilot?

Flight Risk is a tense action thriller set against the stunning but treacherous backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness. The film centers on Deputy U.S. Marshal Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery), who is tasked with transporting Winston (Topher Grace), an accountant turned informant on the run from the Moretti crime family. As they board a small plane piloted by the seemingly affable Daryl Booth (Mark Wahlberg), their journey quickly becomes a fight for survival when it’s revealed that the pilot is actually a hitman sent by Moretti to ensure Winston never testifies.

Stranded and isolated, Madolyn must confront her own traumatic past as she improvises to protect Winston and herself. The situation escalates when they learn there’s a leak within the U.S. Marshals connected to the crime family, making them targets not just from the skies but also from within law enforcement. As Madolyn wrestles to keep control of the plane and maintain hope for rescue, the tension on board builds relentlessly, with shifting alliances and personal demons coming to the fore.

The film’s climax is a nonstop barrage of confrontations; Madolyn fends off both the lethal hitman and manipulations from her superiors. As the plane careens toward a perilous landing amid running low on fuel, Madolyn’s resourcefulness and courage are put to the ultimate test. In the final moments, she not only manages to land the plane but thwarts another assassination attempt on Winston, who is rushed to safety. “Flight Risk” delivers high-altitude suspense with psychological drama, underscored by revelations of betrayal and redemption.

It is Mark Wahlberg as you’ve never seen him before. At first it was almost hilarious watching Daryl and his quirky banter with his two passengers, but the tone quickly turned dark as Daryl reveals his true identity and evil intent. It was unnerving to say the least watching Mark Wahlberg portraying a very dark evil side. Stepping well outside his usual heroic or wholesome roles, Wahlberg embraces the character’s duplicitous nature, portraying Daryl as both a seemingly folksy, affable pilot and a ruthless, unhinged hitman. Wahlberg made a visible physical transformation by shaving his head for the role, adding a raw and unsettling authenticity that heightened the menace of his character. As the film progresses and his character’s evil intentions come to light, Wahlberg shifts gears into an overtly psychopathic demeanor—snorting, snarling, and radiating danger.

I liked it, it was fascinating to watch Mark Wahlberg in this role. It is a good little ride, grab some popcorn and give it a go….