Sam Heughan
Tom Buckingham
Overview
An off-duty SAS soldier, Tom Buckingham, must thwart a terror attack on a train running through the Channel Tunnel. As the action escalates on the train, events transpire in the corridors of power that may make the difference as to whether Buckingham and the civilian passengers make it out of the tunnel alive.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Tunnel Vision of SAS: Red Notice
I’ve always had a soft spot for the kind of action movie that treats a moving vehicle as its own character—a steel-and-glass world hurtling toward disaster, where every corridor is a potential battleground. SAS: Red Notice knows this trick well. It sets its sights on the Channel Tunnel, that 31-mile undersea marvel that connects Britain to Europe, and turns it into a claustrophobic pressure cooker for its heroes and villains.
The problem? The film is so busy trying to outrun its own clichés that it forgets to ask why we should care about the people inside.
That’s not to say it doesn’t try. The opening sequence is a masterclass in controlled chaos: a heist gone wrong, a shootout in a Parisian alley, and a getaway that ends with our hero, Tom Buckingham (Sam Heughan), leaping onto a moving train like it’s the most natural thing in the world. (It isn’t.) The camera lingers on the Eurostar’s sleek exterior as it plunges into the tunnel, and for a moment, you believe this might be the kind of film that understands its own setting.
The tunnel isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a ticking clock, a labyrinth, a place where escape is measured in minutes and every decision could be your last.
But then the script kicks in, and the film’s ambitions start to feel like a hostage negotiation where no one’s really in charge. SAS: Red Notice wants to be Die Hard on a train, Executive Decision with a British accent, and a meditation on the morality of black ops all at once. It’s a lot. Too much, really.
The plot—something about a rogue operative (Ruby Rose) hijacking the Eurostar to expose government corruption—isn’t just predictable; it’s the kind of story that’s been told so many times the characters seem to be reciting their lines from muscle memory. NME wasn’t wrong when it called the film “inept,” saddled with a “corny script” that “plays like Call of Duty: The Movie.” The dialogue lands with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, and the twists arrive with the inevitability of a train schedule.
Audience Opinions
Audience 4.3/10
"A forgettable action thriller with decent set pieces but hampered by weak writing and uninspired performances."
The occasional action sequences and the attempt at a high-stakes thriller have some appeal, but the plot is predictable and the characters underdeveloped. The cast, particularly Sam Heughan, is competent but can’t elevate the material. The overall experience feels generic, with little to distinguish it from other mid-tier action films.
What viewers praise
- Decent action scenes Some set pieces are well-choreographed and provide brief excitement.
- Sam Heughan’s effort Heughan’s performance is the most engaging, even if the role doesn’t offer much depth.
- Fast-paced runtime The 124-minute runtime moves quickly, avoiding prolonged dull moments.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn thriller tropes without adding anything fresh or surprising.
- Weak character development Supporting characters feel underwritten, and even the leads lack depth or memorable arcs.
- Uninspired dialogue Lines often fall flat, making interactions feel forced or clichéd.
- Low-stakes feel Despite the premise, the tension rarely feels genuine or impactful.
Recommended for
Casual action fans Sam Heughan enthusiasts Weekend thriller seekers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of SAS: Red Notice: A High-Stakes Action Thriller with Star Power
SAS: Red Notice (2021), directed by Magnus Martens, promised to deliver a pulse-pounding blend of action and espionage, with a cast that read like a who’s who of British and Hollywood talent. Starring Sam Heughan, Ruby Rose, and Andy Serkis, the film followed an elite Special Air Service (SAS) operative racing against time to thwart a terrorist plot. latestnetflix.com's read is that but while the on-screen chaos was undeniable, the behind-the-scenes story was just as intriguing—if a little murky.
A Star-Studded Cast with High Expectations
The film’s ensemble cast was one of its biggest selling points. Sam Heughan, fresh off his success in Outlander, took the lead as Tom Buckingham, an SAS operative caught in a deadly conspiracy. Ruby Rose, known for her roles in John Wick: Chapter 2 and Batwoman, played Grace Lewis, a rogue operative with her own agenda. Andy Serkis, the motion-capture legend behind Gollum and Caesar in Planet of the Apes, brought gravitas as the villainous William Lewis.
Supporting them were heavyweights like Tom Wilkinson, who played a shadowy government figure, and Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp), who added depth to the thriller’s web of intrigue. The cast’s chemistry was a talking point, though early buzz suggested the film’s breakneck pacing left little room for character development.
Production Challenges and Mixed Reception
SAS: Red Notice was filmed across multiple countries, including the UK, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, a logistical feat that hinted at the film’s ambitious scope. However, the final product received a lukewarm response from critics and audiences alike. On SensCritique, it earned a modest 4.3/10 from over 500 voters, with many citing uneven pacing and a convoluted plot.
Rotten Tomatoes listed the film as available on Netflix, Fandango, and other platforms, but its reception paled in comparison to similarly titled action thrillers like Red Notice (2021), the Ryan Reynolds-led Netflix hit. The confusion over the title—sometimes marketed as SAS: Rise of the Black Swan—didn’t help, leaving some viewers unsure what to expect.
Soundtrack and Style: A Missed Opportunity?
One area where SAS: Red Notice might have stood out was its soundtrack, but even that flew under the radar. The score, while serviceable, failed to leave a lasting impression, earning a middling 5.2/10 on SensCritique. For a film packed with high-octane action, the music didn’t quite match the intensity of the visuals, a rare misstep in an otherwise polished production.
The Verdict: A Flawed but Watchable Thriller
Despite its flaws, SAS: Red Notice wasn’t without its merits. The action sequences were tight, and the cast’s star power kept audiences engaged. But with a weak critical reception and a title that often got lost in the shuffle, it struggled to carve out its own identity.
For fans of military thrillers, it’s a decent rental—but don’t expect it to reach the heights of its more famous namesake.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Related movies
More titles in the same genres and with the same cast.
The Prestige
2006 Movie
13 Going on 30
2004 Movie
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
2018 Movie
Snowden
2016 Movie
Luther: The Fallen Sun
2023 Movie
The Titan
2018 Movie
Denial
2016 Movie
Animals
2026 Movie
Surviving Hurricane Otis
2026 Movie
Gajab Raat
2026 Movie
Reporting Live
2026 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
2025 Movie