Cast: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Theo Rossi, Dean Norris, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Tonatiuh
Genre: Thriller, Action, Crime, Mystery
Director:Â Jaume Collet-Serra
Streaming on Netflix: 13th December 2024
The 1980s and 1990s marked a golden era for high-octane action-thrillers, and that legacy is reinvigorated with style and adrenaline in Carry-On. After two ambitious ventures into blockbuster territory with Jungle Cruise and Black Adam, Director Jaume Collet-Serra returns to the sharp, tightly wound genre storytelling that defined his collaborations with Liam Neeson in Unknown and Non-Stop. With Carry-On, Collet-Serra crafts a brisk, inventive tale centred on a TSA agent whose enigmatic adversary blackmails into allowing a suspicious carry-on bag to bypass airport security. This fast-paced, intricately plotted thriller is a masterclass in tension-building, delivering a gripping story that keeps its protagonist—and the audience—perpetually on edge. In doing so, it serves as an unexpected holiday treat for Netflix viewers, blending classic action tropes with fresh twists.
At the heart of the story is Ethan (Taron Egerton), a Los Angeles International Airport TSA agent struggling to find his footing in life. Ethan and his girlfriend, Nora (Sofia Carson), eagerly anticipate their first child’s arrival. Yet beneath Ethan’s excitement about fatherhood lies a simmering insecurity. Having failed to pass the entrance exam to become a police officer, he’s resigned himself to a job he views as mundane and unfulfilling—a sentiment not lost on those around him, including his supportive but exasperated boss Phil (Dean Norris) and his colleague and best friend Jason (Sinqua Walls).
His sense of lost potential compounds Ethan’s dissatisfaction. A former high school track star, he has spent years avoiding risks and settling for a stagnant routine. Nora, who also works at LAX, encourages him to pursue his dream of law enforcement again, but Ethan hesitates, fearing failure. On Christmas Eve, however, he decides to step toward proving himself, persuading Jason to let him man the critical luggage security checkpoint—a small but symbolic gesture of his resolve to “wake up” and take control of his life.
What begins as a personal milestone quickly spirals into chaos. While manning the checkpoint, Ethan discovers a Bluetooth earpiece in a luggage bin. Moments later, he receives a text instructing him to use it. Reluctantly complying, he hears the voice of a shadowy figure known only as Traveler (Jason Bateman). Traveller gives Ethan a chilling ultimatum: ensure that an imminent passenger’s carry-on bag passes through security unnoticed or faces catastrophic consequences. What follows is a pulse-pounding descent into a high-stakes game of manipulation and survival as Ethan races against time to navigate the increasingly tricky situation while uncovering the true motives behind Traveler’s scheme.
As Ethan uncovers the truth, he learns that the antagonist’s plan involves blackmailing Jason by holding his family hostage. Despite this revelation, the cunning “Traveler” and his tech-savvy accomplice (played by Theo Rossi), who operates from a van parked nearby with the van’s restrained owner in tow, effortlessly adapt their strategy. They extract critical intel on Ethan, using it to manipulate him into compliance. “One bag for one life,” the Traveler ominously declares. With Nora’s safety hanging precariously in the balance, Ethan reluctantly follows orders, especially after his initial attempts to seek outside help via his phone and smartwatch are quickly thwarted.
Ethan soon realises he’s under constant surveillance. He cleverly deduces the Traveler’s nearby location by paying close attention to background noises during the villain’s continuous chatter and commands. Jason Bateman portrays this rogue antagonist as a talkative and calculating figure, revelling in his psychological games. His frequent monologues about Ethan’s life, flaws, and potential future reflect his overconfidence and conviction that he holds all the cards.
Initially, the Traveler’s scheme appears airtight. Yet, through unexpected complications, T.J. Fixman’s razor-sharp script begins to unravel that illusion. Ethan, a bundle of nerves, attempts a desperate bid to signal for help, inadvertently triggering a fatal incident that gets him removed from his position. This turn of events forces the Traveler to escalate his demands. Claiming he’s not a terrorist but a mercenary “facilitator” for such operations, the Traveler refuses to take no for an answer. His relentless pressure pushes Ethan to the brink, forcing him into increasingly bold and dangerous actions to prevent total catastrophe.
The film Carry-On takes its time revealing the contents of the Traveler’s ominous luggage and the full scope of his sinister plan. However, these elements serve more as intriguing MacGuffins than central plot points. Director Jaume Collet-Serra and writer Fixman keep the narrative focused on Ethan’s immediate predicament, highlighting the harrowing choices he must make as he navigates a series of impossible dilemmas. The proper tension lies in the meticulous mechanics of the plot. Every detail introduced early in the story proves essential later, and even the most improbable twists are delivered with enough precision and grit to maintain believability.
As Ethan grapples with his harrowing predicament, local police officer Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler) gradually becomes aware of the case and becomes entangled. While her character essentially functions as a narrative device, she is nonetheless at the centre of the film’s most visually audacious and chaotic sequence: a frantic car chase in which director Jaume Collet-Serra’s camera dynamically spins and rotates within the vehicle’s interior, mirroring the chaos as it hurtles through freeway traffic.
The protagonists and antagonists rely on tech-savvy accomplices, adding a layer of high-stakes digital cat-and-mouse tension. Ethan and the enigmatic Traveler cross paths multiple times, their confrontations crackling with psychological intensity. The Traveler repeatedly mocks Ethan’s stagnant, unremarkable life and perceived cowardice, increasing the stakes. While these interactions and plot elements strain believability, they’re undeniably gripping. They craft a self-contained thriller that thrives on its claustrophobic airport setting, complete with frazzled passengers and mounting frustration, to deliver moments of genuine suspense.
Carry-On feels like a spiritual cousin to Die Hard 2: Die Harder, but with a twist: the hero isn’t a wisecracking, rule-breaking supercop but an unassuming everyman desperate to rise to the occasion. Taron Egerton embodies Ethan with a compelling mix of beaten-down inertia and frantic resolve, anchoring the film with his relatable performance. Meanwhile, Jason Bateman channels his signature blend of quiet menace from Ozark into the Traveler, a cold, calculated villain whose unassuming demeanour is reflected in his plain wardrobe and unremarkable baseball cap. Together, Egerton and Bateman create a tense, captivating cat-and-mouse dynamic, while the supporting cast—Deadwyler as the determined officer, Logan Marshall-Green as a Homeland Security agent aiding her, and Dean Norris—adds depth and texture to the story.
Collet-Serra’s direction is a reminder that sleek, tightly constructed thrillers with genuine style and relentless pacing are far from obsolete. Carry-On may not be groundbreaking or awards-bound, but its no-frills, pulse-pounding efficiency is a refreshing throwback to a time when high-stakes thrillers were unpretentious, entertaining, and unabashedly thrilling. With its crafty suspense, taut momentum, and sharp performances, it’s worth watching this Christmas.
Overall: 6/10
Movie Reviewer
