Watch 7500

7500 is a straight-to-streaming film released in 2019, directed by Patrick Vollrath and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Omid Memar, and Aylin Tezel. The film follows the events that unfold when a group of terrorists attempt to hijack a plane and holds its passengers hostage. The film takes place entirely inside the cockpit of the plane, a decision that not only adds to the claustrophobic tension but also highlights how little control the pilots have in the situation. Gordon-Levitt plays Tobias Ellis, the co-pilot of a commercial airline flying from Berlin to Paris when terrorists hijack the plane in mid-air.

The film starts on a quieter note, with Tobias going about his pre-flight checklist while his partner, captain Michael Lutzmann (Carlo Kitzlinger) flirts with a flight attendant. Once the passengers are on board, the hijackers reveal themselves through the passcode only they know, isolating the flight deck from the rest of the plane.

Tobias manages to use the emergency warning system to alert the passengers of the hijacking, while the hijackers threaten to kill hostages one by one if their demands are not met. The film doesn't shy away from the violence, with each subsequent shot showing the fear and desperation of the people stuck onboard.

For the most part, the film is a character study of Tobias, as he's put under increasing pressure by the hijackers, co-workers, and his own conscience. He's forced to make quick and difficult decisions that can have life and death consequences for everyone trapped in the cockpit.

The acting in the film is solid, especially from Gordon-Levitt who gives an intense but restrained performance. He may not be the biggest action star, but he sells his terror, desperation, and resolve in equal measure. Memar also delivers a compelling performance as one of the terrorists, giving us a glimpse into his character's motivations and vulnerabilities.

The sound design is also worth noting, as the constant hum of the plane and the muffled sounds from the other side of the door create an intense and eerie atmosphere. Meanwhile, the score by Volker Bertelmann adds to the tension without distracting from the action.

While the film delves into the horrifying subject matter of terrorism, it manages to avoid being gratuitous or exploitative. Instead, it's a tense thriller that explores the psychology of its characters and the helplessness of people in an unpredictable and terrifying situation.

It's not a perfect film, however. Some of the logic doesn't hold up under scrutiny, and there are a few contrivances meant to ratchet up the tension that feel out of place. Additionally, while the film explores the motivations of the terrorists to a certain extent, it doesn't quite manage to ground them in a specific political or religious ideology. This could be seen as a positive or a negative, depending on your perspective.

Overall, 7500 is a tense and engaging thriller that showcases the talents of its lead actor and director. While the subject matter is understandably difficult, the film manages to handle it with care and respect. If you're a fan of claustrophobic thrillers or just looking for a tense, well-made film, 7500 is worth checking out.

7500 is a 2020 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 58.