Adapted from Words Like That S3 Ep. 1. Originally published January 14, 2025
Two big movies hit the box office this month: Wolf Man, yet another reboot of the classic Lon Chaney, Jr. Universal horror movie, and Flight Risk, an action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Mel Gibson.
When I reacted to the trailers to these movies last year for my YouTube channel, I noted both had the potential to be solid pictures. Wolf Man appears to be examining the psychological aspect of lycanthropy: What does it feel like for a man to lose his ability to think, reason, and speak as he transform into an animal? How would his wife and daughter respond to watching their husband and father turn into a monster that may very well kill them?
The concept of Flight Risk, meanwhile, sounds gimmicky and cheesy yet also unique and interesting. The premise: A law enforcement officer transports a witness via airplane. The only other member of the party? Their pilot (Wahlberg) — who is actually an assassin hired to kill the witness. The setup is loaded with potential for tension, a necessary ingredient for an action thriller. Plus, the pedigree behind and in front of the camera might elevate the film beyond what it might be under a lesser director and star….