In Eagle Eye, an invisible puppet master, voiced by Julianne Moore, abuses technology for nefarious purposes, drawing two strangers into a web of murder and deceit.

A threatening telephone call to both characters sets this ludicrously overblown romp in motion, inviting director DJ Caruso to up the ante with a series of spectacular set-pieces that begins with the arm of a crane crashing through the side of a building.

Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and single mother Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) have never met, but both receive similar calls informing them to follow explicit instructions or pay the price.

A threat to kill Rachel’s son ensures Jerry and his companion abide by every dictate.

When the mastermind reveals their ultimate goal, for Jerry and Rachel to commit mass murder, they find themselves on the run from FBI special agent Thomas Morgan (Bily Bob Thornton).

The people who could save Jerry and Rachel from their 21st-century nightmare are now the very same people who want them dead.

Adrenaline junkies will whoop at every preposterous twist, everybody else should disengage their thought processes for two hours and surrender to director Caruso’s white-knuckle ride.