Despite a career plagued by scandals and public meltdowns, Mel Gibson remains one of Hollywood’s most compelling filmmakers. Whether directing sweeping historical epics such as Braveheart and Hacksaw Ridge or dabbling in offbeat action comedies such as Fatman, Gibson rarely fails to entertain. Flight Risk, his latest project, is no exception.

This stripped-down, 90-minute thriller unfolds almost entirely aboard a single-propeller plane — more accurately described as “a kite with wings.” The setup is simple: U.S. Marshal Madolyn (Michelle Dockery) is tasked with transporting Winston (Topher Grace), a mob accountant-turned-federal witness, to testify in court. The only caveat is that they must first fly him out of the Alaskan wilderness, where he’s been hiding out.