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Skybound: Hidden gem of a Thriller

Five plane passengers are unable to land after a gigantic disaster happened on the ground. Sukanya reviews the horror film, Skyblound. An exclusive foor Different Truths.

Rating:   8/10

Genre:  Horror

Directed by: Alex Tavakoli

Written by: Alex Tavakoli

Cast: Scarlett Byrne, Gavin Stenhouse, Rick Cosnett, Tyler Fayose, Carla Pimental, Morten Suurballe

On Disc/Streaming: Nov 7, 2017

Runtime:  82 minutes

It would be easy to assume with so many films using Airport as motivation that there is zero newness that an aeroplane disaster movie could present to differentiate itself from its forerunners but then 2017s Skybound comes along and introduces a key ingredient to movies in aeroplane disaster subgenre… the ground!

Aeroplane catastrophe films are nothing fresh. The first one of its kind was 1970’s Airport promoting an all-star cast that included Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin and George Kennedy. It would be easy to assume with so many films using Airport as motivation that there is zero newness that an aeroplane disaster movie could present to differentiate itself from its forerunners but then 2017’s Skybound comes along and introduces a key ingredient to movies in aeroplane disaster subgenre… the ground!

Five pals on a private aeroplane mysteriously lose their radio connection on an excursion from New York to LA. As they proceed, they’re compelled to assume that a major crisis happened on the ground. They discover a stowaway, Erik, who urges them not to land at any cost. Before they run out of fuel, they must find out the truth.

The film is set on the plane, which makes for a fantastic setting for what happens on the mainland while they are flying.

As far as the performances are concerned, I do struggle to buy Scarlett Byrne as a medical student.

As far as the performances are concerned, I do struggle to buy Scarlett Byrne as a medical student. Rest is good without standing out.

In the plotline, not knowing what has happened works for the film because we are as oblivious about the events as the characters themselves and only learn when they do. As a story, this is interesting and well worth catching the ride.

In the plotline, not knowing what has happened works for the film because we are as oblivious about the events as the characters themselves and only learn when they do.

The CGI is weak but also not used too much, we don’t rely on the effects either because it is the adversity on the plane which drives the film forward.

Photos sourced by the author

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Sukanya Basu Mallik
Sukanya Basu Mallik is a renowned Indian writer, known for her works in various publications and for winning Best Manuscript Awards for fiction & non-fiction categories (Mumbai Litofest, 2018). She is currently pursuing a PhD at IIT Madras, focusing on organisational behaviour and art-based therapies for enhancing teaching-learning effectiveness using immersive technologies. She was recognised for her short story 'Healing of Wounds' at NCLF, led by Ruskin Bond.

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