Single-setting thrillers are often some of the most exciting to watch, although they can easily stray into boring or dull territory. Turbulence at least has a distinct point of view, underlining its messaging with an exclamation mark of an ending. Strand a couple with marital problems and a blackmailer on a hot air balloon together: what could possibly go wrong? Director Claudio Fäh, who helmed the iffy direct-to-video Hollow Man II, certainly knows how to choreograph four people stuck on a hot air balloon without it ever feeling monotonous. Fast-paced, messy, and mildly bonkers, Turbulence may not win any awards for dazzling special effects, but it’s mostly a whole lot of campy, disposable fun.
Corporate executive Zach (Jeremy Irvine, War Horse, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again) doesn’t seem like the greatest guy, judging from a harrowing opening scene where he coldly dismisses a disgruntled employee. Said employee then pulls a gun out amongst the hustle and bustle of the work office, shooting himself in the head and splattering blood on Zach’s face. That kind of event would make any person with a conscience begin to question their life’s choices. For Zach, it just makes him head off to a local bar, where he proceeds to buy a drink for the mysterious Julia (Olga Kurylenko, Thunderbolts, Quantum of Solace).
Though Julia seems particularly flirty with Zach, he manages to hold his ground, opining the relationship with his wife as they are about to celebrate a belated honeymoon together. We do not see how their meeting plays out, yet this event becomes the catalyst for the obvious hot air balloon trap. The jarring effectiveness of the opening scene promises a different type of film than the one we actually receive. Zach’s focus shifts to fixing his marriage, seemingly brushing the shocking suicide under the rug for the time being.
By the time we get to Emmy (Hera Hilmar, Mortal Engines, Da Vinci’s Demons) and Zach about to journey on a scenic hot air balloon fight—notably the safest method of air travel according to their guide, Harry (Kelsey Grammer, Frasier, X-Men: The Last Stand)—an ominous note hangs in the air. Julia’s harassing text messages attempting to blackmail Zach into paying her off culminate in her appearance at the balloon’s boarding. Her presence creates immediate tension with Zach. Hilariously enough, Zach and Julia take snipes at one another with Harry and Emmy within earshot. Somehow, the other two do not even notice anything could be amiss. In the dynamic between the characters, the script from writer Andy Mayson finds a surprising sweet spot. Hilmar especially leans into the unhinged nature of her Julia. The question remains: could Julia be lying, or did she actually have a one-night-stand with Zach? Even if the answer fails to truly surprise, Irvine tries his hardest to make Zach more than the hollow caricature he appears on paper. Kurylenko does a decent job as Emmy, though she does not get as much texture as some of the others.
As it alternates between pulpy thriller and relationship drama, Turbulence entertains, even if its logic and some of the greenscreen effects have become quite literally lost in the clouds. When taken at face value, the film is ridiculous and borderline nonsensical. A viscerally nasty death seems an outlier, and provides a weirdly unbalanced, somewhat unsatisfying topper. The ending itself almost comes off as slightly pretentious. Still, this midair thriller has a great hook, and embraces the more ridiculous elements with a gleeful grin. There are very few movies set expressly in the air, and with that facet in mind, Turbulence already floats above the competition.
Prepare for a bumpy ride—don’t miss Turbulence, in theaters, on demand, and on digital Friday, December 12th.
Kurylenko was Julia, not Emmy.
Thank you! I have updated 🙂