Customer Reviews

Horror Express (1972)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Just received my copy today. I won't go into the story; you can read the product description for that. I just want to comment on the terrific improvement of the picture quality over past releases.

I've owned at least a couple of public domain versions that were washed out, blurred, and grainy. This verion is crisp and clear, with vibrant color and a lot of clean up done. I won't say it's pervect. I saw a couple of spots of imperfection, but they were few and far between. This looked as good as any of the Hammer releases to me.

Very happy how this release turned out, especially given what had to be dated materials. Now if someone can just do something with Dr. Terror's House of Horrors.

A previous review was critical of the image quality, but I've never seen this film look better (I hope they also found a new print of Shock Waves in that Mongolian film vault). I like to see a few flaws in the film - reminders that I'm watching something made in 1972. The Spanish credits and use of its original title further enhanced the feeling of seeing this for the first time. The use of a 1973 Peter Cushing interview as the commentary track is a nice touch, as is the inclusion of three "bonus" trailers.

The film itself is great - in my opinion, far superior to any genre films Hammer/Tigon/Amicus produced in the 70's. An alien fossil thaws-out and infiltrates an isolated group of humans. Sound familiar?

I originally saw this film on SciFi Channel back in the early nineties during a Halloween marathon of horror films. This is probably one of the best Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee movies, that rival even some of their better hammer era films. The atmosphere isolated and creepy and the special effects are simple but very effective and startling. It's also a real treat to see Lee and Cushing working together.

The best way to describe this film is "Murder on the Orient Express" meets "The Thing". A strange prehistoric missing link creature in discovered in a frozen countryside by Christopher Lee's character and is transported on a train. Cushing plays Lee's professional rival, but they soon join forces when they discover the creature is a not so dead alien and is on the rampage turning passengers into mindless zombies.

The movie's not perfect. It has some awkward dialog in some spots, but other then that this film is an often overlooked diamond in the rough. If your a fan of films like the Hammer Studios horror films or just curious about older horror movies of yesteryear give this one a try. The new Blue-Ray edition of this classic by Severin has given this movie the treatment it deserves with some interesting extras.

Please note that this review is for the quality of this Blu Ray disc only. The movie itself is definately 5 stars! I am disappointed with this Blu Ray release. It appears that there has been little or no restoration to the so-called newly found print from Mongolia of all places. Sure, the picture quality itself is up to Blu Ray standards as compared with the DVD (also included in this package). But as you probably know, there have been several "public domain" releases and one official release (now out-of-print) from Image Entertainment. Well, the dots and print scratches are still here on this Blu Ray release! In some cases, depending which DVD release you compare it with, there is a slight reduction in these imperfections, but I guess I'm spoiled by other Blu Ray releases that have previously only been available as poor quality "public domain" material DVDs.

Here is an example: If you're a fan of these classic, yet underated or obscure horror flicks, then you may be familar with Roger Corman's "The Terror" starring Boris Karloff and a very young Jack Nicholson (1963). There have been at least a dozen DVD releases of this film, most of fairly poor quality, scratches, washed out color, etc. And I owned all of them! But earlier this year, Film Crest, Inc. released it on Blu Ray, Digitally Remastered HD Restoration, and the quality is breath-taking!! Hardly a speck or scratch. There is even a side by side restoration comparision in the menu.

Sadly, this is not the case with "The Horror Express." But here it is, a Blu Ray that falls short in the restoration department. Still, I suppose it is worth owning for its 1080p resolution, but I guess (to use the title of a more recent Jack Nicholson film) this is As Good As It (is going to) Get(s).

I admit that I have always been a huge fan of this film. I have had several versions in as many formats as I could get. I even own a dvd version that I got before dvds were common. I have to say this is a really good version of the film and i enjoyed it and will continue to do so for quite a while it is really the best I have seen on dvd.I am impressed with the transfer and encourage all fans of the movie to get this version. If you have only heard or read of the film I recommend you get this and enjoy the film it is a lot of fun and the late Telly Savalas steals the show. So get a copy put in your player, sit down, and enjoy.

I agree with E.A. Solinas' review, yet for the reasons he expressed, I am giving Horror Express five stars. Arguably, four stars might be more appropriate, but, I have great affection for this film and will give it an additional star from emotion.

The "best" of any genre may be defined differently. I think Horror Express is the best of the Cushing-Lee vehicles and, in its own right, a remarkably entertaining, endearingly quirky film the outrageousness of which actually works to its benefit. It is the kind of horror film romp that pleasingly detaches you from reality and makes you happy to "suspend disbelief." It may not be groundbreaking as was Horror of Dracula, nor open the door to new genre approaches as did Curse of Frankenstein. But, among the Cushing-Lee teamings, it is the most enjoyable from all regards and the most satisfying because it uses the wonderful interplay of those two compatable but different actors to the best advantage.

Unlike most of their other films, Lee and Cushing share many scenes in this intricately plotted film. Lee portrays his classic hero: stalwart, humorless, brave, stuffy but decent and more emotional than the character would admit outright. Cushing escapes from the Van Helsing mode (which he certainly portrayed so well), for a different heroic model: impish, conniving, humorous, a bit randy but ultimately brave and willing to risk himself for the sake of others.

Their characters seem to begrudgingly respect and even like each other, but they grate, allowing these good actors to interact vividly. Their droll, spot-on classic British styles fit nicely in the exotic world of the "Orient Express" suddenly gone mad with seemingly supernatural danger and political intrigue. More than any other film, these two highly enjoyable actors get to play against each other. It truly is delightful, not a word that often applies in such films.

The script is tight and clever. The supporting players are earnest and able, with a nice, brief turn by Telly Savalas that is at once funny and frightening. The plot is ridiculous, but definatly works. Like many Hammer and Amicus films, despite low budgets, the sets, costumes and such are lush (I read that the train is the one used in Murder on the Orient Express, but a commentator on this discussion list disagrees and likely that commentator is correct. The director and editor have kept the pacing crisp. Horror Express is a horror-comedy of the rarest type, funny when meant to be funny, scary (or at least tense) when so intended, well acted, interesting, engaging, in sum, highly entertaining.

For these reasons, I rate it the best of the Cushing-Lee movies.

I think this is the first time I've ever given a 1 star review! The picture quality on this DVD was the worst I've ever seen. The colorization was terrible, the picture was fuzzy.....and I could only stand to watch about 10 minutes of it before my head started hurting! It was truly horrible. If you're interested in purchasing, please find another format, as this is impossible to watch.

The `70s horror classic returns like you've never seen it before! Screen legends Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing star as rival turn-of-the-century anthropologists transporting a frozen `missing link' aboard the Trans-Siberian Express. But when the prehistoric creature thaws and escapes, it unleashes a brain-scarfing spree that turns its victims into the eye-bleeding undead. Can the crafty colleagues stop this two million year old monster, hordes of zombie passengers and a psychotic Cossack officer (Telly Savalas) before terror goes off the rails? Silvia Tortosa (When The Screaming Stops) co-stars in this all-time fright favorite from director Eugenio Martín and the blacklisted Hollywood screenwriters of Psychomania, now featuring explosive new Extras and a stunning HD transfer from vault elements recently unearthed in a Mongolian film depot!

EXTRAS:
* Murder On The Trans-Siberian Express: New Interview With Director Eugenio Martin
* Notes From The Blacklist: Producer Bernard Gordon Discusses The McCarthy Era
* The Guardian Interview With Peter Cushing 1973 (Audio only)
* Telly And Me: New Interview With Composer John Cacavas
* Introduction by Fangoria Editor Chris Alexander
* Theatrical Trailer

Blu-Ray / DVD Combo Video Specs: 1.66:1 1080p (Blu-Ray), 1.66:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (DVD)
Running Times: 90 minutes
Audio Specs: Original Mono
Languages: English
Region Code: All
Release Date: November 22nd, 2011

It has been a long time I saw this on a halloween night years ago. I could not remember the name of the movie! Finally I found it thur amazon, this movie was spooky then and still spooky now. I do not want to get into the movie with your viewers all I can say is to get your copy and see for yourself. Beware of those glowing eyes coming at you to suck your brains.

Mr. Drummer

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing were "the best of screen enemies" (to quote Lee). So it's entertaining to see them in a different kind of movie, such as "Horror Express," a somewhat hokey horror movie that is made up for by some excellent performances and pervasive creepiness. You'll never look at a fossil quite the same way again.

Professor Saxton (Christopher Lee) uncovers a frozen ape-man in northern China, and has it crated and loaded on the Trans-Siberian Express. But after his colleague Dr. Wells (Peter Cushing) bribes the baggage man to peek inside, the baggage man is found dead, with bloody white eyes -- and the fossil is gone. More people fall prey to the creature before it's fatally shot by a Russian police officer.

But it soon becomes apparent that the creature may be dead -- but whatever was inside it has just moved on to its next host. Wells and Saxton try to puzzle out what they are dealing with, while a mad monk (Alberto de Mendoza) tries to help the possessed officer, believing him to be Satan. To top things off, a force of Cossack soldiers have arrived to deal with the threat...

"Horror Express" is one of those movies that would normally be B-grade all around -- capable, but nothing really memorable. The plot about a bodysnatching, memory-sucking alien is kinda hokey. But it's the presentation that makes it really interesting, with Lee and Cushing as a pair of scientists, and a sense of mystery around what the creature really is.

And it all takes place in the confines of a train, which gives the movie a claustrophobic feeling, as well as making it seem a bit like a horror version of "Murder on the Orient Express." The dialogue ranges from silly ("There's a stink of hell on this train!") to slyly satirical ("But what if one of you is the monster?" "Monster? We're BRITISH, you know!").

Lee and Cushing are the bright spots in here, as the uptight, scientific-minded Saxton and the friendly Wells, who keeps rubbing Saxton the wrong way. It's interesting to see them as allies ("friends" would be pushing it), and the the two actors give plenty of little details to their strong performances. Dracula and Van Helsing, they ain't. And Telly Savalas shows up briefly as a swaggering, likable Cossack captain.

So from what I've been able to work out, this set is a dual blu-ray/DVD which is hi-def 1.66:1, and has a director interview, an interview about Telly Savalas, an audio interview with Cushing, a new introduction, the trailer, an Easter egg and... an interview about the McCarthy era. HUH?

"Horror Express" is basically a B-movie with the usual weak and solid moments, but some grade-A talent making it worthwhile. Enjoyably spooky.