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Bella Poarch is entering into the acting world.

The 28-year-old TikTok sensation will be teaming up on screen with Sasha Lane for the upcoming horror movie Six Till Midnight, directed by Andrew Donoho.

It marks Andrew‘s feature directorial debut, who has directed music videos for artists such as Janelle Monáe, Paul McCartney and Twenty One Pilots, as well as Bella, per Variety.

Here’s a synopsis: The movie “follows six strangers lured into a cryptic online game show run by the anonymous ‘Host’ who knows their darkest secrets. If they uncover their hidden connection before midnight, they’ll win the prize of a lifetime. Fail, and they won’t make it out alive.”

Carter Jenkins, Nicole Maines, Devin Druid, Assaf Cohen, Tyler Hardwick and Trang-Anh Dong round out the cast.

Six Till Midnight is the first movie to come out of a slate deal between Timur Bekmambetov‘s Bazelevs banner and Zq.

Sasha Lane and TikTok star Bella Poarch are set to star in horror feature “Six Till Midnight,” from director Andrew Donoho and produced by Timur Bekmambetov.

“Six Till Midnight” will mark the film acting debut for Poarch, the Filipino-American platinum-selling singer-songwriter and one of the top TikTok creators with more than 125 million followers and 2 billion music streams. It’s also the feature directorial debut for Donoho, who has directed various music videos for artists such as Janelle Monáe, Paul McCartney and Twenty One Pilots. He has also directed the viral Billboard 100 hit “Build a B*tch” for Poarch.

Written by Gregg McBride, “Six Till Midnight” follows six strangers lured into a cryptic online game show run by the anonymous “Host” who knows their darkest secrets. If they uncover their hidden connection before midnight, they’ll win the prize of a lifetime. Fail, and they won’t make it out alive.

Get ready for an uplifting and heartwarming episode of “Chicago Fire” with Season 11 Episode 13 titled “The Man of the Moment,” airing Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 7:00 Pm on USA Network. In this installment, Firehouse 51 rallies behind Herrmann as they assist him in organizing a school fundraiser, showcasing their community spirit and dedication beyond the call of duty.

As the firefighters of Firehouse 51 navigate their daily challenges, Carver’s troubled brother makes a surprise visit to town, adding a layer of personal drama to the mix. Meanwhile, Brett and Severide find themselves on the receiving end of gratitude from a citizen whose life they saved, highlighting the profound impact their heroic actions have on the community.

With themes of camaraderie, family, and gratitude at its core, “The Man of the Moment” promises to deliver both heartwarming moments and compelling drama. Tune in to USA Network at 7:00 Pm on Saturday, April 6, 2024, to...

Three weeks and two days. Starting Wednesday, that’s how long SAG-AFTRA will have to negotiate a set of agreements that affect a vast swath of union performers working in film and television — about 160,000 members, from actors to dancers to stunt performers — before those current contracts expire June 30.

Within this compressed period, and as thousands of the industry’s writers continue to strike following the breakdown of their own negotiations, Hollywood’s largest union is aiming to tackle both present, meat-and-potatoes and future-looking issues, including the threat of generative AI and streaming residuals that many members believe are insufficient. It’s undertaken an unusually lengthy member input process prior to talks with entertainment companies: The union’s survey of the issues members care about nationwide took place over about eight weeks instead of the typical six, while its plenary committee dedicated to considering proposals from around the country met for seven days,...

The beloved animation studio Pixar has revealed a new look at their upcoming rom-com drama, Elemental, courtesy of a stunning 4Dx poster. This latest look at Elemental puts main characters Ember and Wade at its center, with the pair attempting to navigate their way around Element City, a metropolis inhabited by personifications of the four main elements, fire, water, earth, and air.

4Dx is arguably the best way to see Elemental, considering it gets viewers to viscerally experience the actual elements themselves. You can check out the new Elemental 4Dx poster below and learn more about the film and the format.

Elemental is all set to be led by Leah Lewis as Ember Lumen and Mamoudou Athie as Wade Ripple, with the duo of opposing elements growing closer as the story progresses as they slowly discover how much they actually have in common.

The rest of the cast behind Elemental...

Five years ago, an actor of Middle Eastern descent arrived at a studio test for a major cable TV show that was looking to diversify its cast and was asked by the casting director what percentage Latino he was. “I’m not Latino,” he replied. “I’m Egyptian.” Without apologizing, the casting director said: “We can’t move you forward, unfortunately, because that’s not diverse.”

The actor told Deadline: “It was stated as factual, as if that is the normal trend in the business. Which is weird because everywhere else I’m never considered white — definitely not by U.S. Customs when I cross the border and get randomly selected and held back for two to four hours.”

A year later, in its 2017 negotiations for a new film and TV contract, SAG-AFTRA won recognition of Middle Eastern North African (Mena) performers as a diverse ethnic category for inclusion in its casting data report.

Witch Hunt Review — Witch Hunt (2021) Film Review from the 28th Annual South By Southwest Film Festival, a movie directed by Elle Callahan, and starring Gideon Adlon, Elizabeth Mitchell, Abigail Cowen, Christian Camargo, Echo Campbell, Lulu Antariksa, Cameron Crovetti, Nicholas Crovetti, Ashley Bell, Assaf Cohen, [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Witch Hunt: A Messy Brew of Allegories That Creates a Noxious Co-Opting Potion [SXSW 2021]...

Title: Poor Greg Drowning Director: Jeffrey Scott Collins Screenwriter: Jeffrey Scott Collins Cast: Jeremy Luke, Christine Woods, Jenny O’Hara, Cedric the Entertainer, Jenny O’Hara, Laura Seay, Deborah S. Craig, Kevin Daniels, George Basil, Assaf Cohen, Luke Greenfield, Ajay Mehta, Sarah Baldwin, Graham Sibley, Ray Xifo, Andrew Dits, Marguerite Gioia Insolia, Paulina Michaels, Kate Prendergast. Article […]

The post Interview: Jeffrey Scott Collins Talks Poor Greg Drowning (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.

Recently, ABC released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Resurrection" episode 6 of season 2. The episode is entitled, "Afflictions," and it sounds like things will get pretty dramatic and intriguing as another returned vanishes into thin air. Bellamy finds out something shocking from his past, and more! In the new, 6th episode press release: "A desperately ill Bellamy is going to turn to his shadowy government contact for help and is going to end up learning something shocking about his own past. The living will seek answers after another returned vanishes into thin air. Meanwhile, a newcomer to Arcadia, is going to make Henry an interesting offer." Guest stars will feature: Kyle Secor as Brian Addison, Michelle Fairley as Margaret Langston, Assaf Cohen as Dr. Courtelis and Donna Murphy as Elegant Woman. Episode 6 is set to air on Sunday night, November 2nd at 8pm central time on ABC.

New Bones season 9,episode 15 spoilers & clips hit the net. Last night,Fox released the new spoilers and sneak peek/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "Bones" episode 15 of season 9. The episode is entitled, "Heiress In The Hill, " and it appears to be pretty interesting as Booth reveals he has a big problem with Brennan's higher salary, and more. In the new "The Heiress In The Hill" episode, The team is going to attempt to solve the murder of a kidnap victim. The Jeffersonian team will investigate the murder of Lauren Frank, who is a kidnap victim whose remains were found buried at a park. However, when they find out the unhappy relationship that Lauren had with her stepmother, the team will begin to think the killer may have been someone closer to the girl than previously expected. Meanwhile, Hodgins will discover a shocking secret about his family ,and Brennan and...

New Bones season 9,episode 15 official spoilers,plotline revealed by Fox. Recently, Fox released the new,official,synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Bones" episode 15 of season 9. The episode is entitled, "The Heiress In The Hill," and it sounds like things will get pretty intriguing as the team tries to crack a kidnapping,murder case, and more. In the new,15th episode press release: The team is going to try to solve the murder of a kidnap victim. Press release number 2: The Jeffersonian team will investigate the murder of Lauren Frank, a kidnap victim whose remains were found buried at a park. But when they discover the unhappy relationship that Lauren had with her stepmother, the team is going to start to think the killer was someone closer to the girl than expected. In the meantime, Hodgins will uncover a shocking secret about his family and Brennan and Booth will face...

It's Speed meets When a Stranger Calls, by way of Saw and The Purge, in the indie thriller Unknown Caller, which is ready to dial into limited theaters on March 1st. Everything you need to know to get you prepped for the release awaits, including poster art and an intense and action-packed trailer.

Dig in!

Directed by Amariah Olson and Obin Olson, the flick stars Louise Griffiths, David Chisum, Assaf Cohen, Henri Lubatti and Victor McCay.

Synopsis

A psychopath uses a family’s high tech security system with a ticking time bomb to terrorize them for 90 minutes demanding an answer to his question; ‘Who Am I?’

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New Agents Of Shield episode 3,season 1 intense spoilers & clips hit the net. Last night, ABC released the new spoilers and sneak peek/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "Agents Of Shield" episode 3 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "The Asset, " and it appears to be quite intense, once again, as Skye will get into a major,problematic, predicament, and more. In the new "The Asset" episode, when the brilliant scientist, Dr. Franklin Hall, is kidnapped, Agent Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are going to have to race against the clock to locate him. Skye is going to be their only way in, pushing the team to their limits when the entire plan turns upside-down. It is going to guest star: Ian Hart as Dr. Franklin Hall, David Conrad as Ian Quinn, Josh Cowdery as Agent Tyler, Bodie Newcomb as Agent Mack, Scott Subiono as Todd Chesterfield, Vachik Mangassarian as Qasim Zaghlul,...

by Brett White

The first few episodes of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." are starting to take shape now that we're less than a week away from the show's highly anticipated debut. Marvel has recently released the official synopsis for the third episode, entitled "The Asset."

When the brilliant scientist, Dr. Franklin Hall, is kidnapped, Agent Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents must race against the clock to locate him. Skye is their only way in--pushing the team to their limits when the entire plan turns upside-down--on "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

But that's not all Marvel has revealed. Their announcement includes the guest cast list for the episode, which finally sheds some light on just who a few of the recently hired recurring characters are.

Guest starring are Ian Hart as Dr. Franklin Hall, David Conrad as Ian Quinn, Josh Cowdery as Agent Tyler, Bodie Newcomb as Agent Mack, Scott Subiono as Todd Chesterfield,...

A couple hours after announcing the re-election of Ken Howard as National President, the union has unveiled the results of its Los Angeles local balloting. Clyde Kusatsu was elected President, with Jenny O’Hara as First VP and Susan Boyd Joyce as Second VP. This is the 24th of the 25 SAG-AFTRA locals to be announced, leaving only New York, the results of which are expected tonight. See the full results after the jump: Related: SAG-AFTRA Exec Director’s Pay & Its Funds In Trust Up Fiscal ’12 SAG-AFTRA Fires Back In $110M Foreign Residuals Lawsuit SAG-AFTRA Reveals More Local Election Results Clyde Kusatsu President Two-Year Term Jenny O’Hara First Vice President Two-Year Term Susan Boyd Joyce Second Vice President Two-Year Term Jenny O’Hara Local Board Member Two-Year Term Esai Morales Local Board Member Two-Year Term Amy Aquino Local Board Member Two-Year Term Clyde Kusatsu Local Board...

In tonight's episode of "Supernatural," Sam and Dean continue their quest to close the gates of hell forever, as Sam pursues the second tablet trial. The first trial is already doing potentially irrevocable physical damage to Sam -- Castiel suggests that it's breaking him down on an atomic level -- so there's no telling what he's in for with his second one.

Meanwhile, Dean and Benny reunite after a revelatory visit from Naomi, but (spoiler alert!) Benny isn't the only character returning: looks like Jim Beaver is making his first appearance as Bobby since the Winchesters salted-and-burned his flask last season. Perhaps the new reaper (guest star Assaf Cohen) has something to do with Bobby's reappearance?

Real-life current events this week have an interesting tie to the latest "Supernatural" storylines. Fun fact: Italian archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient cave in Turkey. They believe the cave once represented...

On TV this Wednesday: Scrubs alum Sarah Chalke moves back in with her Parents, the Count does another number on Arrow, Thandie Newton’s Rogue detective barely hangs on and the Tenth Doctor Spies a new role. As a supplement to TVLine’s original features (linked within), here are 10 programs to keep on your radar.

Preview | American Idol: What Should the Top 7 Sing for ‘Classic Rock, No Ballads’ Week?

8 pm Arrow (The CW) | The Count (returning guest star Seth Gabel) escapes his mental institution right around the time Starling City is flooded with deaths related to the drug Vertigo,...

Sam And Dean Face The Second Trial — Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) respond to a call from Kevin (guest star Osric Chau), who is terrified after hearing Crowley’s (guest star Mark Sheppard) voice in his head. After hearing Kevin’s news, Sam and Dean team up with reaper named Ajay (guest star Assaf Cohen), who helps them deal with the second trial from the Tablet. Meanwhile, Dean receives a visit from Naomi (guest star Amanda Tapping) and realizes he must find Benny (guest star Ty Olsson) and ask for a huge favor. Guy Bee directed the episode written by Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner.

Last night's "Supernatural" was a bit of a throwaway episode so thankfully they're returning to the task at hand - closing the gates of hell - next week. Here's a sneak peek of Episode 8.19, "Taxi Driver," along with a new generic promo for the show.

"Supernatural" Episode 8.19 - "Taxi Driver" (airs 4/3/13, 9-10 pm)

Sam And Dean Face The Second Trial — Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) respond to a call from Kevin (guest star Osric Chau), who is terrified after hearing Crowley’s (guest star Mark Sheppard) voice in his head. After hearing Kevin’s news, Sam and Dean team up with reaper named Ajay (guest star Assaf Cohen), who helps them deal with the second trial from the Tablet.

Meanwhile, Dean receives a visit from Naomi (guest star Amanda Tapping) and realizes he must find Benny (guest star Ty Olsson) and ask for a huge favor. Guy Bee...

New Supernatural season 8,episode 19 official spoilers,plotline revealed by CW. Recently, CW revealed the new,official,synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Supernatural" episode 19 of season 8, and it sounds quite intriguing as Dean and Sam will have to deal with the second trial from the Tablet,and more. The episode is titled, "Taxi Driver." In the new,19th episode press release, Sam and Dean are going to respond to a call from Kevin, who is terrified after hearing Crowley’s voice in his head. After hearing Kevin’s news, Sam and Dean will team up with a reaper named Ajay (guest star Assaf Cohen), who helps them deal with the second trial from the Tablet. In the meantime, Dean is going to receive a visit from Naomi (guest star Amanda Tapping) and realizes he must find Benny (guest star Ty Olsson) and ask for a huge favor. Guy Bee directed the episode,...

SAG-AFTRA, the new performers' union that was formed on March 30 with the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has taken its first official action by establishing an initial 24-member executive committee. The panel was announced on on Wednesday, Variety reported.The committee is composed of a dozen national officers, and SAG-AFTRA co-presidents Ken Howard and Roberta Reardon have each appointed six additional members. Per the merger agreement, Howard and Reardon will chair the SAG-AFTRA executive committee.The officers are Ned Vaughn, executive VP; Amy Aquino and Matthew Kimbrough, co-secretary-treasurers; Gabrielle Carteris, Los Angeles VP; Mike Hodge, New York VP; Craig Dellimore, mid-sized locals VP; David Hartley-Margolin, small locals VP; Michael O'Keefe, actor/performer VP; Catherine Brown, broadcaster VP; and Jim Ferguson, recording artist VP.The appointed members are David Browde, Assaf Cohen, Rebecca Damon, Denise Dal Vera,...

Horatio (David Caruso) has breakfast with his son, Kyle (Evan Ellington) and thinks the waitress likes him. Horatio says it's the uniform she likes. Actually Kyle thinks it's the man wearing the uniform. He's going to be transferred and deployed in 14 days. He has a dangerous job; which Kyle likens to being just as dangerous as Horatio's job. His friend Brian Nassir (Ethan Rains) appears to be missing and he inherited the lot from his father. Someone's on fire inside and Kyle believes it's Brian. Me Tom (Christian Clemenson) warns the others to be careful as the limbs may fall off the Db. To Horatio, the killing resembles an execution and reminds Me Tom of the gang wars in the 1990's.The Db is encased in rubber. Natalia (Eva Larue) finds an antique torch. Horatio tells her the gas can may have prints. The Range Rover parked outside doesn't belong to Brian.

In a Screen Actors Guild election that was widely considered a referendum on merger with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, proponents of that idea emerged with a clear mandate.When the results of SAG's 2010 national board of directors election were announced Sept. 23, MembershipFirst, the SAG faction that emerged from the group of actors who helped scuttle merger in 2003, lost the fight for all 13 Hollywood-based national seats up for grabs to its rival faction, the pro-merger Unite for Strength. MembershipFirst partisans had held all 13 of those seats. The loss hands the coalition of Hollywood, New York, and regional moderates who had held a slim majority of the national seats—and who have been vocal in support of merger—a commanding boardroom advantage.Even more striking is MembershipFirst's loss of its majority on the Hollywood board. Unite for Strength won an overwhelming 33 of 35 open seats. Ufs, formed in...

Back Stage obtained the following e-mail exchange between Screen Actors Guild's 1st vice president Anne-Marie Johnson and national board of directors candidate Ned Vaughn. Both Johnson and Vaughn verified the authenticity of the messages, in which Johnson, leader of SAG's MembershipFirst party, and Vaughn, co-founder of the Unite for Strength party, discuss the possibility of a jointly organized campaign event. As of publication, no such event had yet been scheduled.************************From: Anne-Marie JohnsonSent: Friday, August 27, 2010 12:02 PMTo: Ned VaughnCc: Joe d'AngerioSubject: InvitationAugust 27, 2010Dear Ned: We both know how important it is to get accurate information out to our members before they are asked to vote on something as important as our upcoming elections. Because of this, we are inviting you and members of your slate to a taped, unedited 2010 SAG Hollywood Board Seat Election Debate, to be aired on our respective websites. I'm sure you're just as frustrated as we are with the tit-for-tat,...

SAG yesterday released the official list of candidates for its upcoming national board elections. Notably, all of the open seats in La (the Hollywood Division) are held by MembershipFirst members, which means that, as was the case last year, Mf can at best maintain its level of representation on the national board. More likely, it will lose some of its board seats.

On the Hollywood divisional board, Mf could gain or lose, as all division seats are up every year. This contrasts with the national board, where approximately 1/3 of the 69 seats are up in any given year. The president and secretary-treasurer, who are ex officio members of the board, have two-year terms, and are not up for election this year.

Ballots in Hollywood and New York will be mailed on August 24 with a return deadline and tabulation on September 23. Election results are expected to be announced that evening.

The Hollywood...

Jeff Garlin, Ron Perlman, Clark Gregg and Gabrielle Carteris are among the candidates from the Unite for Strength party vying for seats on the Screen Actors Guild's national and Hollywood Division boards.

Ufs announced Wednesday its full slate of 35 candidates, which includes 15 Hollywood board incumbents and a number of first-timers. Ballots go out to Hollywood Division members August 24 and must be returned by Sept. 23, when results will be tallied.

A first round of preliminary discussions with employers for a new TV-theatrical contract begins four days later. That deal expires June 30.

The Ufs party, which is part of a majority coalition that now runs the guild, was founded in 2008 in the midst of inter-union strife and took the hotly contested presidency last fall with its candidate Ken Howard.

"I'm inspired by our candidates," said Howard. "These are smart, dedicated SAG members who are passionate about protecting actors. They represent the diversity...

Thursday’s SAG election was a victory for the moderate coalition. Yet, strangely enough, the leaders of the losing hardline faction will all find seats on the national board, and will continue to be a shadow government within the union’s Hollywood board—a board on which none of the key moderate leaders will be voting members.

Yes, the moderates (Unite for Strength (Ufs) / Usan / Rbd / independents) won the national offices – President and Secretary-Treasurer – and picked up additional national board seats and many on the Hollywood board as well. But with SAG, the story is never simple.

In fact, paradoxically, 1st VP and failed Membership First presidential candidate Anne-Marie Johnson will probably continue as 1st VP, ex-president Alan Rosenberg will almost certainly be back on the national board in a matter of days despite winning only an alternate seat, Mf leader David Joliffe will probably be on the Hollywood board...

SAG's filing deadline for fall elections came and went Thursday, and it remains unclear who will face each other for the presidency. Only Unite for Strength, formed last year in opposition to the MembershipFirst faction led by SAG president Alan Rosenberg, has gone public with its complete slate.

Ken Howard will lead the charge as Unite for Strength's candidate for president, and Amy Aquino will run for secretary-treasurer. Unite for Strength also will field 33 candidates from the guild's Hollywood Division for seats on the national board of directors.

Months ago, Rosenberg stated provisionally that he will seek a third term, but first national vp Anne-Marie Johnson or another candidate could heed the call to represent MembershipFirst in the elections.

On the eve of MembershipFirst announcing its slate Sunday during a scheduled fundraiser, the Unite for Strength candidates took direct aim at and issue with their political opponents of the past year.

Kurt Fuller has joined the cast of David E. Kelley's hourlong pilot for NBC's "Legally Mad" and has been tapped for a three-episode arc on the CW's "Supernatural."

In addition, Assaf Cohen has been added to USA Network's 90-minute pilot "Operating Instructions."

The Warner Bros. TV-produced "Mad" centers on Brady Hamm (Charity Wakefield), a twentysomething woman who takes a job at a law firm run by her father (Hugh Bonneville). Fuller will play Lou Peable, an attorney in the throes of a midlife crisis.

On "Supernatural," also from Wbtv, Fuller will play a corporate executive who secretly has supernatural authority.

Fuller, whose series credits include ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and "Big Day," is repped by Apa and manager Rick Ax.

"Instructions," from Conaco Prods. and Universal Cable Prods., centers on Lt. Rachel Scott (Emily Rose), a former Marine who returns from a tour as a Navy surgeon to become...

Last night Bloody-Disgusting's SpookyDan visited the set of Blood Shot, which is currently lensing in Los Angeles. Until we unroll our video report, you can dig on a short piece, along with three still taken on set. Brad Dourif, Lance Henriksen, Michael Bailey Smith, Brennan Elliott, Assaf Cohen, Matin Klebba, Azita Ghanizada, Charles Napier, Paula Trickey and Kristi Klainos all star in this vampire action film, which was originally pitched as a short film.

We've been informed that Brad Dourif (Child's Play), Brennan Elliott (Poltergeist: The Legacy), Assaf Cohen, Martin Klebba and Azita Ghanizada will all be joining Michael Bailey Smith (The Hills Have Eyes) in Blood Shot, which is being helmed by Dietrich Johnston here in Los Angeles. In addition, we've been provided with a long synopsis for the film, which stars Bailey Smith as a government vampire.

"Flightplan" is a modern-day variant on Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 classic "The Lady Vanishes", only the lady in question is a 6-year-old girl and she doesn't disappear on a train but rather 37,000 feet above the Atlantic on a Berlin-to-New York flight. Where Hitchcock sought mystery and comedy, this film from young German director Robert Schwentke ("Tattoo") places its emphasis on paranoia and anger. One can easily dismiss the film as a tricked-up thriller, which surveys the geography of a jumbo jet and the calculus of human emotions in tight quarters to entertain audiences for a taut 95 minutes. But there is something really nasty about this cold, calculating exercise in mob psychology and human venality.

Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster might draw audiences on opening weekend, and who knows what the spectacular drama this week at LAX may do for an in-flight melodrama. But audiences might react adversely to such transparent manipulation for so weak a payoff. The Walt Disney Co. will be hard-pressed to equal the success of the year's other in-flight thriller, "Red Eye", which has grossed more than $55 million.

Foster is working here in the woman-on-the-edge/protective-mother mode that helped drive David Fincher's "Panic Room" to boxoffice success. She goes for a gaunt look and a ruthless obsession that a casual observer might well interpret as paranoia. Flight attendants and most passengers are openly contemptuous of her efforts, angry that she is disturbing an otherwise peaceful flight and absolutely certain they never saw a child in her company board the plane. Not one single person?

The movie starts oddly, as if in a bad dream. A woman, Kyle Pratt (Foster), shuffles zombielike through empty, snowy streets of nighttime Berlin. She is accompanied by a man we later learn is an apparition of her late husband, who days before fell or jumped from the top of their apartment building. Writers Pete A. Dowling and Billy Ray and the director are clearly trying to raise doubts about the widow's sanity. Yet the effort is off-putting as it situates a thriller in an unreal or even surreal world, where a viewer can trust nothing onscreen.

The rest of the movie takes place aboard a jumbo jet, where its personnel are unduly hostile toward passengers, a few Arabs are thrown in to raise the flag of terrorism and two seemingly reasonable men, air marshal Carson (Peter Sarsgaard) and Captain Rich (Sean Bean), struggle to satisfy the distraught mother.

None of the movie's tricks or twists will be revealed here. But audiences are asked to swallow the following assumptions: that no one on a packed flight saw Kyle's daughter, Julie (Marlene Lawston), not even the children seated directly in front of her; that no one noticed anyone escort a probably unwilling child up the aisle while her mother slept; that an entire airline company, post-Sept. 11, is still susceptible to rudimentary sabotage; that Kyle just happens to be an aircraft engineer who knows the plane's configurations better than the crew does; and, finally, that our bad guy(s) can anticipate each and every far-fetched coincidence.

Cinematographer Florian Ballhaus' camera maneuvers within the airplane set to maximize emotions. The camera moves in tight when Schwentke wants to disorient or distract us. Then it backs away to survey the cabin mood. It zeroes in on one flight attendant (Erika Christensen) to make us suspicious. It warmly treats the space surrounding the friendly and helpful air marshal. Extreme close-ups on Foster and a therapist (Greta Scacchi in a cameo), conveniently onboard, make us doubt the existence of a daughter.

Throughout, Foster plays the intensity with an operatic passion. Conversely, Sarsgaard is flexible and likable, while Bean is professionally stiff. Kate Beahan plays a sourpuss flight attendant who regards the situation with a disapproving and drawn face. Assaf Cohen is the designated Arab, whom passengers pick on for his ethnicity.

Press notes trumpet the fact that the fictional aircraft was largely designed by producer Brian Grazer and the director. Perhaps this is a new creative field for the two as the interior has a snappy retro design, cheerful bars, large galleys and posh, inviting lounges.

FLIGHTPLAN

Buena Vista Pictures

Touchstone Pictures and Imagine Entertainment presenta Brian Grazer production

Credits:

Director: Robert Schwentke

Screenwriters: Peter A. Dowling, Billy Ray

Producer: Brian Grazer

Executive producers: James Whitaker, Charles J.D. Schlissel, Robert DiNozzi, Erica Huggins

Director of photograp: Florian Ballhaus

Production designer: Alexander Hammond

Music: James Horner

Costumes: Susan Lyall

Editor: Thom Noble

Cast:

Kyle Pratt: Jodie Foster

Carson: Peter Sarsgaard

Julie: Marlene Lawston

Captain Rich: Sean Bean

Stephanie: Kate Beahan

Obiad: Michael Irby

Ahmed: Assaf Cohen

Fiona: Erika Christensen

Mr. Loud: Shane Edelman

Mrs. Loud: Mary Gallagher

Therapist: Greta Scacchi

MPAA rating PG-13...