WFG RATING: B+

Lionsgate and Grindhouse Entertainment presents a Altitude Film Entertainment/Head Gear Films production in association with Enderby Entertainment and Phiphen Pictures. Directed by Claudio Fäh. Produced by Andy Mayson, Amanda Bowers, and Molly Conners. Written by Andy Mayson. Cinematography by Jaime Reynoso. Edited by Tamsin Jeffrey. 

Stars Hera Hilmar, Jeremy Irvine, Olga Kurylenko, and Kelsey Grammer. 

A couple find their peaceful hot air balloon trip in peril in this thriller that can be described as Dead Calm meets Fall from the director of Hollow Man 2 and Sniper: Reloaded.

Emmy and Zach are a couple who have been going through a lot lately. After suffering a miscarriage, Emmy feels a bit depressed. Zach, a successful businessman, has completed a major deal in another city. However, a disgruntled former employee of his walks in and confronts him only to end up killing himself in front of him and his partners. Feeling sorrow as a result, Zach finds himself meeting Julia, who consoles him that night before he returns to Emmy.

The two decide to get away from their pain by going on a hot air balloon trip. The guide, Harry, ensures that their trip is safe. However, their peaceful world is about to be turned upside down when Julia shows up to join the couple and Harry. As the trip begins, a series of complications, both technical and within the group, begin to emerge. When an attempt at fixing one of the technical issues results in Harry’s accidental death, the couple and Julia now must not only face their issues head on, but the effects of nature as well. 

This thriller from director Claudio Fäh is reminiscent of Dead Calm but adds a twist similar to the film Fall in which there is a predicament involving someone caught and stuck in a fight for survival against nature. In this case, the story of a couple in a hot air balloon not only face off against the forces of nature when disaster strikes, but the complication of a third party is set for major chaos to explode. 

The film even starts out on a shocker when we see Jeremy Irvine’s Zach get confronted by a disgruntled ex-employee who proceeds to kill himself in front of him and his colleagues after a major deal has gone through. We also see Hera Hilmar’s Emma feeling a bit depressed as it is implied she has suffered a miscarriage. It is clear that this is what seems to bring them apart. Irvine and Hilmar showcase excellent emotional performances in their roles of the married couple who see the hot air balloon ride as an effort to overcome their grief. 

Olga Kurylenko is excellent as Julia, the young woman who soon enough becomes the third party after a night of consoling Zach after witnessing the events in the building. Kelsey Grammer makes the most of his role as balloon guide Harry, but once he disappears in spectacular fashion midway through, the film really picks up and goes into one twist after another. And boy are some of these twists shocking and let’s not forget the fact that this is all taking place in a hot air balloon that could end up crashing into a mountain as no one knows how to work the balloon. However, the final fifteen minutes are definitely jaw-dropping.

Turbulence is definitely thrilling thanks to the performances of Hera Hilmar, Jeremy Irvine, and Olga Kurylenko and the setting where it all goes down is quite more exciting. Those who love films like Dead Calm and Fall will enjoy this meshing.

The film will be released in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital on December 12.