Idris Elba Soars in High Altitude Thriller

Idris Elba flies the unfriendly skies in a gripping Apple TV+ thriller that unfolds in real time. Hijack takes primarily place aboard a Kingdom Airlines A330 flight from Dubai to London. But we also see events in both cities as officials on the ground scramble to understand what’s happening. An ordinary passage becomes terrifying as mysterious assailants commandeer the plane. A wily protagonist tries to ingratiate himself to the captors while subverting their plans. That’s no easy task when frightened passengers act foolishly. It’s a white-knuckle game of deception with lethal consequences. The two-episode premiere, “Final Call” and “3 Degrees,” masterfully builds and sustains tension.

Sam Nelson (Elba) races through the Dubai airport while texting his separated wife. Marsha (Christine Adams) warns him not to come home. She’s already moved on with Daniel (Max Beesley), a policeman laying in bed beside her. Sam replies “too late” as he boards KA29 to London. He takes a seat in first class as the flight crew gets everyone settled. Sam asks his rude seatmate to turn down his phone. He’s also not interested in polite conversation.

Flight attendant Arthur (Jeremy Ang Jones) jokes with his co-worker Collette (Kate Phillips). Everyone on the flight crew knows she’s having an affair with the captain. Robin Allen (Ben Miles) goes through the pre-flight checklist with First Officer Anna Kovacs (Kaisa Hammarlund), a picture of his wife and children placed prominently on the dashboard. They receive runway clearance from Dubai air traffic control. At the same time, Neela (Nikkita Chadha), a security officer, gets a strange call and asks to leave her shift early.

Idris Elba as Sam Nelson

Apple TV+

In the economy section, Leesha (Antonia Salib) uses the bathroom before the plane takes off. She finds something entirely unexpected on the bathroom floor. Leesha takes the object back to her seat. An alarmed Kacey (Chantelle Alle) warns her to report the discovery at once. Terry (Jasper Britton), a kind older man who helped stow her luggage, hears their conversation. He’ll get help at once.

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Terry barrels into first class despite warnings from the attendant. He whispers to Stuart (Neil Maskell) that their timing has changed. Sam notices that Stuart hands Terry a green baseball cap. He walks back to his seat while exchanging knowing glances to other seated passengers. Stuart, Jamie (Aimée Kelly), and Jaden (Mohamed Elsandel) all head for the lavatory. They come out with guns drawn and orders for everyone to remain calm.

Hijack doesn’t rush the action. It smartly takes the time to introduce the characters in a known setting. We learn their names as they interact during the hustle and bustle of getting seated. This exposition is key when Stuart and his team make their dastardly move. You feel Leesha’s shock when Terry returns armed and deadly. How can this nice British man be a terrorist? The passengers and crew are caught completely off guard. But Sam quickly realizes that this was meant to happen much later in the flight. Something moved up the timetable, which means they’re already unnerved.

A High-Stakes Hijacking

Apple TV+

Pillow talk between Marsha and Daniel reveals that Sam is a high-stakes business negotiator. He’s the guy companies bring in to sort the most difficult problems. Back on the plane, Sam shrewdly assesses the dire situation. The obvious first thoughts are ghastly memories of 9/11, where terrorists used planes as missiles on a horrific suicide mission that murdered thousands of innocent people. Sam watches as his fellow passengers mull attacking the hijackers. But these people aren’t Islamic radicals with a death wish. They have a different agenda. His first survival strategy must be to stop a devastating altercation that could destroy the plane.

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How would the average person react under such heated conditions? Most would be fearful, some might retaliate, but almost no one would take Sam’s tactical approach. He’s the unexpected outlier capable of abstract thought in a crisis. The hijackers’ method of breaching the cockpit will have pulses pounding. They’ll kill to achieve their goals. This pivotal early scene allows Sam to observe their command structure. He ascertains who’s in charge, the hot head, their willingness to talk, and most importantly, their weaknesses. Sam earns their trust through cold calculation and deft maneuvering. Screenwriter George Kay (Criminal, Killing Eve) brilliantly explores the fight or flight worst case scenario.

Hijack’s superb editing is integral to its success. Calamity in the air is juxtaposed by methodical reasoning on the ground. The hijackers know the plane will be shot down if authorities are alerted and consider them a threat. They alleviate suspicions through skillful duplicity. But various characters in Dubai and London smell a rat. They can sense something is wrong. Gut instincts play a major role in the banner second episode. Alternating perspectives between Sam’s cunning and their investigation is riveting.

A Summer Nail-Biter

Hijack is a summer nail-biter that respects the audience’s intelligence. The real-time delivery is used to great effect. Sam has seven hours to prevent a disaster. Elba’s in top form as a man living by wits and nerve to see his beloved family again.

Hijack is a production of 60Forty Films, Archery Pictures, Green Door Pictures, and Idiotlamp Productions. The first two of seven episodes premieres June 28th on Apple TV+.

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