I love Christmas action movies. Die Hard is a seasonal staple in my household. Though it doesn’t quite recapture the magic of its predecessor, I’m also a big fan of Die Hard 2. The airport setting makes for a great backdrop and memorable setups, like the fight sequence on a baggage conveyor. The Christmas Eve timeline gives the film a seasonal flare. Not to mention, the blustery winter weather justifies the presence of an icicle, which a resourceful John McClane makes brilliant use of.
A seasonal treat in the vein of Die Hard 2.
Speaking of Die Hard 2, the most-watched film on Netflix today, it feels like a soft reboot of that holiday action spectacle. Just wait till you hear the similarities, dear reader. Carry-On is set in an airport on Christmas Eve and sees a TSA agent matching wits with a terrorist who plans to unleash a toxic agent on a plane full of unsuspecting passengers and protect his girlfriend from getting caught in the crossfire. It’s not a rip-off of the 1990 action sequel, but Carry-On surely reads like a loving homage.
I really enjoyed Carry-On. Sure, I wish it were a little grittier, and I didn’t quite buy the relationship between the lead character and his pregnant girlfriend. But it’s still a compelling action thriller that I’ll likely add into seasonal rotation alongside the first two Die Hard films, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Violent Night.
Jaume Collet-Serra directed this seasonal offering. You may recognize that name, seeing as he has helmed several horror releases, including House of Wax, Orphan, and The Shallows. Collet-Serra directed Carry-On from a script by T.J. Fixman.
The picture’s onscreen talent roster includes Taron Egerton (as the lone wolf trying to thwart a terrorist plot) and Jason Bateman (as the sneaky devil attempting to take out a plane full of innocent people). Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, and Tonatiuh round out the cast.
The setup for this top-charting Netflix thriller goes like this:
A young airline security guard is blackmailed by a mysterious passenger who threatens to smuggle a dangerous package onto a plane on Christmas Eve.
That’s all we have for you at present. Stay tuned to Dread Central for more timely updates on which films dominate the streaming charts. If you’d like to bond over a shared appreciation for the Die Hard franchise, come find me on Threads.
Categorized:News
