Ham Tran, known for films such as “Hollow” (2014) and “Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy” (2022), turns to large-scale action cinema with “Hijacked”, a thriller inspired by actual hijackings of Vietnamese civilian aircraft during the late 1970s. Produced with the involvement of the People’s Public Security Cinema, the film premiered in Vietnam in September 2025, around the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the country’s declaration of independence. It subsequently won Best Vietnamese Film at the fourth Da Nang Asian Film Festival, where Thai Hoa also received the Best Actor award. Despite its historical inspiration, however, the movie is much closer to the exaggerated action spectacles of the 1990s than to a realistic reconstruction of actual events.
The story revolves around a commercial flight in postwar Vietnam, during which a group of armed hijackers led by the ruthless Long attempt to seize control of the aircraft and force the pilots to fly them out of the country. Unfortunately for them, a number of aviation security officers, including Binh, who trains other officers, and Son, are also on board. Alongside the flight attendants Nhan and Tu Trinh, they attempt to confront the criminals, resulting in an increasingly violent confrontation that threatens everyone on the plane.
The approach Ham Tran implements lingers between the highly unrealistic but impressive and fun style of Hollywood action movies of the 1990s, with “Con Air” being an obvious comparison, and the excessive violence frequently found in Southeast Asian genre cinema. Essentially, “Hijacked” demands that its audience throw logic out of the window, particularly once the action moves into full gear. Although the story is inspired by real events, practically everything happening inside the aircraft seems to defy common sense, with the director prioritizing spectacle over plausibility at every opportunity.
This approach becomes particularly evident in the way the protagonists seem almost impossible to kill. One of the good guys receives at least five gunshots and an equally absurd number of stab wounds, yet somehow manages to continue fighting. Furthermore, the heroes are actually trained police officers specializing in martial arts, with one of them even being responsible for training the others. Nevertheless, the criminals repeatedly give them a run for their money, resulting in confrontations that become increasingly difficult to believe. The fact that everyone continues fighting after sustaining injuries that should have incapacitated them adds considerably to the overall absurdity.
The use of bullets and even grenades inside a flying airplane further emphasizes this disregard for logic, while the increasingly extravagant developments make it clear that practically anything can happen as long as it contributes to the spectacle. The twist involving a character secretly working with the hijackers also seems rather questionable in terms of plausibility, even if it adds another intriguing element to the story. The conclusion is equally excessive, combining a rather jingoistic attitude with an extremely unlikely happily-ever-after resolution that essentially ignores much of what has preceded it.
On the other hand, the movie is definitely fun, particularly for fans of violence and exploitation cinema. The latter aspect is especially evident in the treatment of the rather attractive flight attendants, who receive the lion’s share of the punishment throughout the confrontation. Interestingly, however, they continue fighting despite their injuries, becoming among the most persistent participants in the struggle. This combination of victimization and heroism is another characteristic of the film’s exaggerated approach, while also providing some of its most entertaining moments.
The humor is equally appealing on occasion, particularly through the older passenger carrying a durian and his much younger fiancée. Their presence offers some welcome comic relief amid the constant fighting, although their relationship and behavior are scarcely more believable than the action. Nevertheless, such moments work within the overall context, further highlighting the intensely crowd-pleasing intentions of the production. The film is clearly designed to entertain through practically any means available, even when those means undermine its credibility.
The cast is another of the film’s strongest assets. Thai Hoa is a true powerhouse as Long, presenting an imposing and frequently terrifying villain who dominates several of the movie’s most intense sequences. Parts of his characterization, particularly his relationship with his son, do not make much sense, but his performance remains impressive. Tram Anh and Kaity Nguyen are also quite appealing as Nhan and Tu Trinh, respectively, portraying courageous damsels in distress who refuse to surrender. Thanh Son and Ma Ran Do are similarly good as Binh and Son, with the entire cast delivering solid performances within a framework that does not exactly offer much opportunity to showcase their acting range.
On a technical level, the action choreography is occasionally impressive, particularly considering the cramped space inside the airplane, which makes the prolonged physical confrontations even more demanding. The cinematography is also quite good, capturing the constant chaos effectively, although the CGI used for the aircraft could definitely have been better. The editing results in a suitably frantic pace that fits the overall aesthetics perfectly, maintaining the intensity for most of the duration. The ending, however, could have benefited from some additional trimming.
Overall, “Hijacked” is a fun but thoroughly excessive action movie that sacrifices practically every notion of realism in favor of spectacle. Its hyperbolic developments, implausibly resilient characters and exaggerated conclusion definitely demand considerable suspension of disbelief. Nevertheless, the impressive cast, occasionally excellent choreography and relentless violence make it a rather entertaining experience, particularly for viewers who simply want to have fun without thinking too much about what they are watching.