The Chinese police must stop a group of hijackers and protect the passengers and crew on an aeroplane at 30,000 feet.
Mediocre, despite the obvious effort.
Some films are difficult to watch because of their themes. Others are difficult because of their execution. Wings of Dread belongs to the second category, unfortunately.
From the very beginning, the film struggles to establish a convincing cinematic identity. The dialogue is basic, the script rarely surprises, and even identifying the writer becomes a challenge. IMDb does not credit a screenwriter, leaving the impression that directors Ashton Chen, who also stars in the film, and Pengfei Qin may have been involved in shaping the narrative. Regardless of who is responsible, the result is a story that feels underdeveloped and predictable.
The premise itself requires a significant suspension of disbelief, but the level of impossibility presented by the plan at the centre of the story pushes that suspension to its limits. The problem is not that cinema cannot embrace the impossible. It absolutely can. Some of the greatest films ever made are built on impossible ideas. The problem is whether the world created around that idea convinces the audience to believe in it. Here, that connection is missing.
Another major issue is the constant musical guidance. Almost every sequence is accompanied by music that tells the audience exactly what to feel, leaving little room for interpretation or emotional discovery. Instead of enhancing moments, the score often becomes an instruction manual for the viewer.
The editing also struggles, with transitions and pacing occasionally making the experience more difficult than necessary. Combined with visual effects that fail to create the required illusion, the film often feels disconnected from the scale and ambition it attempts to achieve.
Having said that, there is no reason to simply dismiss Wings of Dread. The fight sequences provide the film’s strongest moments, offering the energy, choreography and physicality that fans of martial arts cinema may appreciate. Ashton Chen, Nita Lei, Iko Uwais and the rest of the performers bring enough presence and ability to make you wish to see them again, whether fighting against each other or standing on the same side.
Well, Wings of Dread is a missed opportunity. The action delivers, but almost everything surrounding it struggles to reach the same level.
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