Idris Elba takes the helm of the “Hijack” miniseries, from the creator of “Lupin.” A thriller about a hostage-taking on a plane, filmed in real time.
What is it about ?
Told in real time, “Hijack” is a thriller centered on the hijacking of a plane bound for London. During the seven-hour flight, ground authorities scramble to find answers. Sam Nelson is a recognized negotiator in the business community. While he must use all his ingenuity to save the lives of the passengers, his very risky strategy could well lead to his downfall.
Hijack, a series created by George Kay with Idris Elba, Archie Panjabi, Fatima Adoum, Kate Philips… Available on Apple TV+ and MyCanal
Nerves on edge
The confined space of airplanes, a whole bunch of people crammed inside, and the potential for looming disaster, have always made an ideal setting for a suspense thriller. The latest is Hijack, which follows a commercial flight from Dubai to London that is, as its title suggests, hijacked.
The hostage situation unfolds throughout the seven episodes (approximately one hour) of the series, which corresponds to the unfolding of events in real time. Inside the plane, Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) and his comrades in misfortune concoct a series of schemes to try to thwart the terrorists, while on the ground, politicians and police are racing against time. to determine what to do.
Like a lot of series right now, Hijack probably should have been a feature film, a format that better suits this type of claustrophobic thriller. Even with the stakes high and the clock ticking, it’s much harder to keep the tension going over seven episodes.
The decision to play things out in real time heightens the anxiety, forcing viewers to experience every moment of the diversion with the characters. But the effect is diluted by the continuous passage of the action between the interior of the plane and the various intrigues which take place on the ground, which often blurs our perception of the passing time.
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Idris Elba to the rescue
The plot turns out to be full of revelations and twists and turns as we learn who the bad guys are, what their plan is, and what other secrets may be inside this plane. But Hijack’s timing isn’t as tight as it should be. False clues, like a character with a sinister past who may or may not be involved in the hijacking, are distributed and disposed of far too quickly to have any impact.
Despite his clumsiness, Hijack still manages to grab the viewer. Each episode is a rapid succession of schemes and deceptions as the passengers attempt to trick their captors, often finding ingenious ways to pass information between the plane’s cabins. Thanks to the wide cast of characters, it’s never quite clear who’s going to be called in next, or what role they’re going to play.
For his part, Idris Elba retains this natural authority that made him so convincing in The Wire and even more so in Luther, but yet he steps out of his comfort zone. Because Sam is a businessman, known for his negotiating skills, but he is not an action hero. In fact, he spends most of the series desperately trying to prevent something tragic from happening on the plane, even if it means he has to be “nice” to the terrorists.
Unfortunately, the drama playing out on the ground slows the action, only occasionally offering something compelling enough to warrant a cut with the pressure cooker about to explode into the sky. A subplot involving Sam’s son (Jude Cudjoe) and his stepfather (Max Beesley), a not-so-sharp cop, seems particularly futile. But while Hijack isn’t a high-tension 24-hour thriller, its twists and thrills are enough to keep you hooked until the end.