What this summer’s Red Eye lacked - - real tension, strong acting, and surprises - - Flightplan provided in the singular package of Jodie Foster. When a story takes place in a limited space such as the confines of a plane, albeit a very large plane, the intensity must be built and carried solely by the actors, as there is little room for scenery or special effects. But, none are needed as Jodie deftly explores the terrifying possibility of losing a child and going to any length to find her while offering some good entertainment through a host of emotional transformations, shouting matches, and a few sucker punches.

Aeronautic engineer Kyle Pratt (Jodie) wakes up to find her six-year-old daughter Julia (Marlene) missing from the seat on which she had been sleeping during a flight from Berlin to New York. The problem is that no one recalls seeing the child and her name does not appear on the passenger manifest. Additionally, the fact that Kyle’s recently deceased husband is down in the luggage area of the plane in a casket makes the crew even more suspicious of this seemingly crazed woman. There are few clues to support Kyle’s story save for the one-armed teddy bear and finger-drawn heart that Julia supposedly made on the window before disappearing.

Of course, neither is enough to convince anyone of Julia’s existence including Captain Rich (Sean) and the air marshall, Carson (Peter); the latter being aboard the plane’s maiden flight to make sure that all runs smoothly. But, Kyle refuses to give up and begins to wreak havoc on the plane and amongst the passengers. The anxiety increases as the likelihood of what could have happened to Julia begins to unfold. There is the “I see dead people” – Sixth Sense moment; the Arab hostage option; the absence of the village to take care of child syndrome; and the Kyle is just crazy angle.

The disclosure of the villain and the ending fail miserably to equate to the incredible 90-minute build-up. But, even with the weak points, Flightplan still provides more than enough to keep one consistently gripping the seat and makes for a wild ride…or rather flight, that is.