Night train to avaricious terror
Something tragic happens on an American train with few passengers on Christmas night. The conductor (Danny Glover) and two other passengers (Leelee Sobieski and Steve Zahn) come up with a dubious plan that they think will improve their lives, but how wrong they are. Matthias Schweighöfer is on hand as an assistant to the conductor.
"Night Train" (2009) is a suspense/thriller that takes place almost entirely on a train. The set-up is the same as “Terror Train” (1980), but this isn’t a slasher, although there’s a little bit of that. It’s more Hitchcockian, not to mention more compelling. Think “A Simple Plan” (1998) on a train, albeit with a MacGuffin and a mystical element. Speaking of the latter, this would’ve worked better without that angle (for me, anyway).
Despite losing points for that and the use of cartoonish CGI for the train barreling down the tracks at 200 MPH (which didn’t bother me, personally), “Night Train” is an entertaining ride highlighted by the stunning Leelee in her prime. It’s not great like “Runaway Train” (1985) or even as good as "Horror Express" (1972) and "Train" (2008), but I’d put it on par with "Beyond the Door III" (1989) and “Howl” (2015).
Although a throwaway flick, it delivers the goods if you’re in the mood for a train flick.
The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot in Sofia, Bulgaria.
GRADE: B-
