When we talk about thrillers that masterfully maintain suspense from start to finish, Wes Craven’s 2005 film Red Eye often flies under the radar—ironic, given its setting aboard a red-eye flight. Set in the claustrophobic confines of an airplane, the movie capitalizes on its tight location to deliver a nail-biting experience that keeps the audience on edge. As a psychological thriller with a blend of action, Red Eye excels in crafting tension through dialogue and character dynamics rather than over-the-top set pieces. But what truly makes Red Eye stand out among thrillers of the mid-2000s is Cillian Murphy’s unforgettable performance as Jackson Rippner, a suave and sinister antagonist who elevates the film’s intensity to new heights.
Cillian Murphy’s Role as Jackson Rippner
Enter Jackson Rippner, a name as sharp and chilling as his character. Played with a calculated blend of charm and menace by Cillian Murphy, Rippner is a villain who operates with a deadly elegance. From the moment he first appears on screen, Murphy commands attention—not with flamboyant gestures or bombastic threats, but with a quiet, unnerving confidence that sets him apart from typical Hollywood antagonists.
Rippner’s introduction is deceptively smooth. He meets Lisa Reisert, played by Rachel McAdams, at the airport bar, where their interaction initially seems flirtatious and casual. Murphy’s portrayal is disarmingly charismatic, making Jackson seem like just another charming stranger you might meet while waiting for a delayed flight. But beneath his polished exterior lies a calculating mind, and it isn’t long before the audience—and Lisa—realize that Jackson has much darker intentions. It’s a testament to Murphy’s acting prowess that he can turn on a dime from affable to terrifying, shifting the tone of the movie in an instant and making the viewer feel just as trapped as Lisa.
The Complexity of Jackson Rippner’s Character
What makes Jackson Rippner such a compelling villain isn’t just his threat to Lisa’s life, but the way Murphy layers the character with charm, unpredictability, and a chilling menace that makes Rippner linger in the mind long after the credits roll. Unlike many antagonists, who are driven by greed, revenge, or a personal vendetta, Rippner’s motivations remain largely professional, which paradoxically makes him even more terrifying. This isn’t personal for him—it’s business. His calm, methodical approach to kidnapping Lisa and using her to carry out a political assassination speaks to a man who has done this many times before and will likely do it again.
Murphy’s Jackson Rippner is a man who thrives on control, and watching him lose and regain it throughout the film adds a fascinating layer to his character. He’s always a step ahead, thinking through every possible outcome, but the moment Lisa begins to outmaneuver him, we see cracks in his facade. There’s an unpredictability to Rippner that keeps the audience guessing. At times, he seems almost reasonable, as if he might be willing to negotiate or let Lisa off the hook, but Murphy masterfully reveals Rippner’s true nature: a sociopath who views human life as a mere tool in his arsenal of manipulation. It’s this blend of charm and cruelty that makes Rippner such a memorable character, one who can switch from calm conversation to violent threats without skipping a beat.
Murphy’s Acting Technique: Subtlety in Suspense
One of the key reasons Cillian Murphy stands out in Red Eye is the subtlety with which he imbues his character. In a film that takes place largely in real-time, with much of the tension building through dialogue rather than action, Murphy’s ability to convey menace through small, almost imperceptible shifts in his facial expressions and body language becomes crucial. There’s a scene early in the flight, for instance, when Jackson’s true intentions are revealed to Lisa. Sitting beside her in the cramped economy-class seats, Murphy’s transformation from a charming fellow passenger to a cold-blooded manipulator is stunningly subtle. He doesn’t raise his voice, doesn’t move aggressively—instead, his eyes narrow just slightly, his smile fades, and suddenly, the air around him feels suffocating.
Murphy’s use of body language is particularly noteworthy. Throughout the film, Jackson maintains an unnervingly calm demeanor, even in moments of high tension. His movements are deliberate, restrained, and controlled—traits that reflect the meticulous nature of his character. One scene that exemplifies this is when Lisa attempts to signal for help. Jackson’s response is swift but composed, as he calmly leans in, his presence suddenly overpowering despite the physical space remaining the same. Murphy’s ability to control the space around him, to make the airplane cabin feel like a trap without ever raising his voice, speaks to his skill as an actor.
Then, there’s Murphy’s delivery of dialogue, which is often laced with a quiet menace. He never overplays his hand, instead relying on a smooth, almost conversational tone that belies the threat behind his words. One of the most chilling aspects of Jackson’s character is how rational he makes his demands sound, as if the lives he’s endangering are simply numbers in a ledger. Murphy’s soft-spoken delivery, coupled with the occasional sardonic smile, makes Jackson feel all the more dangerous because he doesn’t need to yell or threaten to assert his dominance.
Chemistry with Rachel McAdams: Enhancing the Dynamic and Tension
A large part of what makes Red Eye so engaging is the dynamic between Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAdams. Their chemistry is electric, but not in the romantic sense. Instead, the tension between the two is fueled by a predator-prey relationship that evolves over the course of the film. Murphy’s Jackson thrives on control, and much of the suspense comes from watching Lisa attempt to wrest that control away from him.
McAdams, as Lisa, plays a strong and resourceful heroine, and the way she and Murphy play off each other adds layers to the suspense. In a film that could easily have fallen into predictable tropes, their performances elevate it into something far more engaging. Murphy’s calm, almost mocking demeanor contrasts sharply with McAdams’ growing desperation, and the two actors feed off each other’s energy in a way that heightens the stakes at every turn. There’s a particularly gripping sequence where Lisa tries to outsmart Jackson by feigning compliance, only for him to reveal that he’s already anticipated her moves. The way Murphy allows just a hint of amusement to flicker across his face in that moment speaks volumes about his character’s twisted sense of satisfaction in playing this cat-and-mouse game.
Cillian Murphy as a Villain: Cementing His Legacy
While Cillian Murphy had already begun to make a name for himself with roles in films like 28 Days Later and Batman Begins, it’s his performance in Red Eye that truly solidified his reputation as an actor capable of playing complex, multi-faceted villains. Jackson Rippner is not a one-dimensional bad guy. He’s intelligent, charismatic, and frighteningly efficient—a villain who operates with a level of professionalism that makes him all the more terrifying. Murphy’s ability to balance these traits, to make Jackson both likable and horrifying, is a testament to his range as an actor.
What sets Murphy apart from other actors who play villains is his ability to humanize them without making them sympathetic. Rippner, in Red Eye, is a villain through and through, but he’s also believable. There’s no over-the-top monologuing or cartoonish evil; instead, Murphy grounds the character in a cold pragmatism that feels unsettlingly real. It’s easy to imagine someone like Jackson existing in the real world, and that’s what makes him such an effective villain. Murphy’s portrayal of Jackson in Red Eye paved the way for his later performances in similarly complex roles, from the Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy to Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders. Each of these characters shares a certain moral ambiguity, a blend of charm and menace that Murphy has mastered over the years.
Conclusion: A Performance That Elevates the Film
In Red Eye, Cillian Murphy doesn’t just play a villain—he embodies the tension and suspense that define the film. His portrayal of Jackson Rippner is a study in how a great actor can elevate a thriller from good to great, turning what could have been a standard cat-and-mouse game into a gripping psychological battle. His chemistry with Rachel McAdams, his use of subtlety in both dialogue and body language, and his ability to convey layers of menace beneath a polished exterior make Jackson one of the most memorable villains of the 2000s.
Ultimately, Murphy’s performance in Red Eye stands as a testament to his skill as an actor and his ability to bring complexity to even the most sinister of characters. It’s a role that helped define his career and one that continues to resonate with audiences long after the film’s release. In an era where action-packed thrillers often dominate the box office, Red Eye reminds us that sometimes, the most intense thrills come not from explosions or chases, but from a cold stare, a whispered threat, and the unsettling feeling that your worst nightmare might just be sitting in the seat next to you.
