Turbulent Skies – February 28, 2010

What’s It About

“Turbulent Skies” is a 2010 disaster film produced by The Asylum, a studio famous for creating mockbusters. The film primarily imitates airplane disaster/thriller movies, particularly drawing inspiration from “Flightplan” (2005) and other similar films. The plot centers around a commercial airliner that becomes the test vehicle for a revolutionary new automated pilot system called “Robo-Pilot,” designed by a brilliant but arrogant computer engineer named Tom Woodard (played by Casper Van Dien). The system is supposed to eliminate human error in flying and make air travel safer. However, on its maiden voyage with passengers aboard, the Robo-Pilot malfunctions and takes complete control of the aircraft. As the plane begins flying erratically and heading toward a dangerous storm system, the actual human pilot and crew find themselves locked out of the controls. The situation becomes increasingly desperate as they discover the emergency override systems don’t work. Tom, who happens to be on the flight along with his estranged wife Samantha (a flight attendant played by Nicole Eggert), must find a way to disable his own creation before it crashes the plane and kills everyone on board. While “Flightplan” seems to be the main influence, “Turbulent Skies” also borrows concepts from other air disaster films like: “Snakes on a Plane” (2006), “Red Eye” (2005), “Air Force One” (1997), “Passenger 57” (1992). The film combines elements from various airplane disaster movies rather than directly copying just one, making it a more general genre mockbuster.