Train (2008) Review by BlackTequilaKiss

Written by: BlackTequilaKiss

Gorezone magazine said of this movie: 'If you enjoyed Hostel. You're going to love Train', comparing Train to Hostel is a strange tactic. Since Hostel was to most extents and purposes, over-hyped and not the genius toted, it's brave to do such a thing. The question becomes given that it is trying to compare itself to Hostel what is it.. better than? Worse? Or just too familiar?

The answer is too familiar. Whilst I think the film is ok and as some decent scenes, it's biggest flaw is that it is almost a carbon copy of Hostel. Differences come in the form of character and setting but take those away and it bears an uncanny resemblance.

It would feel wrong to say it is Hostel on a Train but watch it like I did and you will see the familiarities.

Plot line: On vacation in Europe, a group of American College Athletes spend the night partying and boozing and miss their train with the rest of the team to Odessa. Things are salvaged though when a woman kindly invites them aboard another train headed in their direction.

However once on board, members of the team start disappearing one by one and those they trusted are quick to deny knowing anything has happened. Once the horrific truth is exposed, it's too late to escape. For the remaining survivors it comes down to one choice: give up and be a willing victim or fight back...

To be honest most of the actors are not worthy of mention, except for Thora Birch. She is an actress I greatly admire for her range and diversity as well as impressive tact of skill. She showed her acting prowess in American Beauty and dazzled in The Hole so I assumed her range would carry through into this. Sadly I was wrong.

There is no question she acted well and wore her heart on her sleeve but at the end of the day she was put in the movie merely to play the atypical teen heroine. Given what she could have done with the role it seems a mere cop out and sadly it felt like only half of what she can bring to the movie is shown. Surpassable but nothing brilliant and that in itself is a shame.

For the score not a lot can be said but there are some choice words. One of which is I expected a certain type and got exactly that. Whilst it is no John Williams, the movie it works in makes it a passable affair. Loud, frantic and fast it keeps pace when needed. One of the compliments I can give is that it does stay within a certain volume without the fear it will rupture your eardrum and that is definitely a blessing.

There however is ONE undeniable fact about Train. If you love your Gore served in loving doses then you will LOVE this movie just for the bloody deaths alone. It starts off gradual but in a short space of time ratchets up the gore second by second, barely letting up for air.

Cinematography and the palate of the movie are nicely edited. Colours are sated so that the more intense colours, for example blood red, stand out and it works. There are some truly disturbing scenes that will give the gore hound some decent moments of pleasure. Such deaths include:

**Minor Spoilers to follow**

A entirely skinned body, a hook in the mouth, hearts almost literally ripped from chests, a spine breaking moment that made even me wince. Yes there are some gory deaths that make up for lack of a better plot really. And this brings me swiftly to,

Special Effects: They are truly well done. The SFX is done coherently and it's best plus is not using CGI as a quick way around the solution but instead staying practical which suits the movie aptly and enough so that it made me squirm on occasion.

I have been generous really. Some nice disturbing gore, a spark of beautiful cinematography does not equate to a masterpiece of a movie. Chances are I might have been nicer in my final say if the copycat moments were not so blindingly obvious.

Final thoughts: It's an ok movie but if you do not like Hostel, Turistas etc I would strongly suggest avoiding the film as you would only draw comparisons and still end up disliking the movie.

For a better time stick with either Terror Train or if need be Midnight Meat Train, both of which will satisfy more . Do not be suckered in by the cover nor the fancy words, it's not that good overall and certainly not original.

By many standards this is a poor movie not worth spending a lot of money on. If you find it extra cheap then spare some change but overwise leave this movie confined to the dollar film bins. This only gets a even 5 out of 10.

This is a community member review and not a staff member review. We appreciate and respect the opinions of our readers and are gratefull that they took the time to contribute it.

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