Carry-On (2024) || When Doing Your Job Becomes the Most Dangerous Thing

I absolutely find movies that grab me by the collar early and refuse to let go, at least in theory, fascinating. Set almost entirely inside an airport during Christmas rush (because chaos loves company), this film plays with anxiety, pressure, and moral panic in a way that almost sticks the landing.

Synopsis

The story follows Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton), a TSA officer having one of those days where life feels stuck on pause. He’s underpaid, underappreciated, and just trying to survive his shift when he’s suddenly forced into a nightmare scenario after being given an opportunity at promotion. A mysterious man (Jason Bateman) threatens to take out someone Ethan loves unless he allows a dangerous package to pass through airport security. And from that moment, the movie becomes a ticking clock.

What works about this film for me is the setting. Airports are already stressful places, and I love how the movie milks that tension perfectly. The crowds, the noise, the constant movement, everything feels claustrophobic. You can’t run, or scream, and you definitely can’t explain yourself without making things worse. That trapped feeling? The film nails it.

Taron Egerton does a solid job carrying the emotional weight. You literally feel his panic, the sweat-on-the-neck anxiety, the mental math of every decision he takes. He’s not an action hero here, he’s a regular guy being crushed by impossible choices, and that realism helps ground the story.

Jason Bateman, though? That man is the quiet menace MVP. No theatrics, just controlled, almost polite cruelty. Had I thought someone could sound so calm while being so threatening. He proves once again that soft voices can be far scarier than loud ones.

Now for where the film stumbles.

As intense as this film is, logic sometimes takes a back seat to suspense. There are moments where you’ll pause and think if something will really work. Some decisions feel a bit too convenient, and the film occasionally stretches believability to keep the tension high. The action itself is restrained, don’t expect explosive set pieces or over the top fights. This is more psychological pressure than physical chaos. That works for the story, but viewers expecting a full-blown action thriller might feel slightly underfed.

Still, the pacing keeps things moving. There’s rarely a dull moment, and even when the plot bends, the urgency pulls you forward. You’re invested not because everything makes perfect sense, but because you want to see how far the situation spirals.

In conclusion, this film is a tight, nerve-wracking thriller that thrives on atmosphere, moral tension, and claustrophobia rather than brute force. It’s not flawless, and it definitely asks you to sometimes suspend disbelief here and there, but it’s engaging, stressful (in a good way), and anchored by strong performances.

It’s the kind of movie that makes you sit up, clutch your armrest while your mouth hangs open knowing full well you’d probably panic just as hard.

7.6/10.

If you’re a fan of contained thrillers or one of those viewers who enjoy psychological tension over nonstop explosions you should see this.

Posted Using INLEO