Customer Reviews

Night Train

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This movie explores what happens, when a few people taking the, NIGHT TRAIN, discover that a passenger is dead. Initially, it was handled rather matter-of-factly. He had apparently taken some pills with alcohol. It was likely an overdose. But just who was this man---and why was he guarding his possessions so closely, and with such paranoia, when he boarded the train?

Sharing his car were only two other passengers: a young pre-med student (Leelee Sobieski) and a salesman (Steven Zahn). The veteran train conductor (Danny Glover) visits the car, shortly after the salesman notes the passenger deceased. While going through the man's possessions they discover a mysterious box. It can't be opened, but one can peer inside through some carvings in the box. The salesman takes an innocent peek, that will change all of their lives. He becomes almost hypnotically entranced. Each, in turn, follows suit. They all fall under the spell, and each tries to make the possession their own. It becomes a cat and mouse game, of the highest degree. And, why won't that darn box open?

This movie could easily have been on the Sci-Fi Channel, as a modern day version of, 'The Twilight Zone.' The theme was so similar to some of those, where the protagonist's values and moral compass, were put to the test by supernatural forces. And, how quickly, one could find his ethics in a state of total decay. The suggestion always seemed to be, that evil could be unleashed in almost, any man, in the right circumstances, and, with the right temptations. The NIGHT TRAIN is no exception, as it explores these human dynamics and the effects of primal greed.

While I recommend this film for those that enjoy the type of stories told in the old, 'Twilight Zone' series, be warned that the acting is 'B' movie grade. Leelee Sobieski delivers the best performance, showing the most unexpected character change, followed by Steve Zahn. Danny Glover was just, well, Danny Glover. He wasn't challenged enough by this role to stray from his customary style and affect. Secondary characters were minimally developed. They simply drove the story along, or presented obstacles. You will also need to suspend some disbelief. Like why were there so few passengers on this train---and why were they spread so far apart? In some instances, there was only one passenger per train car. It was an unlikely scenario to set the stage.

I watched the Blu-ray version and found the audio/video experience to be quite good. There is also almost an hour's worth of Bonus Features, following this 91 minute film. It is rated 'R', for violent content and some language, so it's not for youngsters.

I can't recommend that you run out and purchase this one, without renting it, first. I picked it up as a rental after reading the synopsis. It hooked me! I had to take the mystery to closure, to learn more about that crazy box, but I think one viewing is enough for me. Did the box ever open? I'm not tellin'. I recommend you grab some popcorn, and hop on board the blood-train to find out. 'ALL A-B-O-A-R-D!'

This film is a perfect example of how to make a very effective and suspenseful film with a low budget. One location, few actors and great script. The interaction between the different characters is great. Danny Glover is perfect as the aging train conductor who sees the chance to get a break in life. Only thing that disturbed me was the bad CGI.

I bought this film based on the premise and the fact that I was familiar with the 3 lead actors. As the credits rolled, I noticed another familiar name, far down the list - Richard O'Brien. Since he was the creator and star of one of my favorite films of all time, I thought it would be kind of intriguing to see what he looked like after all these years. Since his glory days as Riff-Raff in his classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show", he has made cameos in a bunch of movies, including "Elvira's Haunted Hills", but not much recently. As the film rolled on, I got so caught up in the plot that I realized I had not seen anyone that could possibly be him, except... NAH! Couldn't be! But as the movie neared the end, I figured I just HAD to be right. I agree fully with the comparisons to classic episodes of "The Twilight Zone", and I didn't mind the cheesy sets. It added to the atmosphere of the film. I could envision seeing this on SYFY on Saturday night (they just need to bleep out a couple of F-words), and it is a cut above their usual fare. And, yes, I was right about Mr. O'Brien. If you still don't recognize him, check out the "making of" featurette, where he appears as himself. Overall, this movie was much more entertaining than I expected given that it went direct to video. And if someone drops dead nearby with a box in their hand, don't look inside!

This movie is a bit Rod Serling-like. Definitely a good Twilight Zone tale here. "Submitted for your approval, one unique, mysterious, and seemingly impregnable box in the possession of a dead man, that beckons all who gaze into it with a siren song of riches untold..." The greed runs wild as the train rolls down the tracks in a blizzard. This one held my interest throughout. Well acted, IMHO -- and besides, Leelee Sobieski is such a beauty I can watch her in anything. A really fun, unique little film.

I agree that the sets are cheap looking and the acting is just so-so, but overall, not a bad movie. I love the two characters from Joy Ride and Danny Glover. It's worth watching, but be warned the opening scenes are really bad especailly the fake train.

NIGHT TRAIN

Absolutely one of the best independent films I have seen in a long time and very much real feeling. I remember buying this just based on the people who starred in it, even thought based on the name and cover it seemed like a "Midnight Meat Train" rip off. Luckily for me it was anything but and turned out to be on of the best movies I have watched in a while. Also it had nothing to do with any kind of story like that of the previously mentioned film.

The film follows a group of people, three to be exact, on a train for one night each minding their own business. But on this one night they were destined to meet on be on this train. Miles [Danny Glover] is the senior train conductor for his station and is growing tired of his life on the train. Chloe [Leelee Sobieski] is just a passenger on her way to see her parents and Pete [Steve Zahn] is just another passenger on the train and is just as harmless as the other two. That is until the three stumble across a dead man on the train that has a little box with him. As they each look into the box they each decide that the treasure inside could make each one of them rich, and fix all their problems.

So as they each come to terms with the situation they decide if they stick together and hide the box from the other passengers all will be fine. At the end of the night the will split what is in the box and all will be fine, but what about the body. As people come and go from the train with police and strangers who might know about the box the three become more and more distrusting. With greed running through their veins one thing must be asked, can they even trust each other?

Now sure I may have gotten over cliché there at the end but hey it was a fun indie flick, what can I say. I remember seeing this movie at the store a couple of different times and passing it up but always remembering it later on. So finally when I went back to that store one day I decided to go ahead and grab it, what a great decision that was. Later on that night I called up my brother and then my grandparents and asked if they all wanted to see it. So since we all like these kinds of films we meet over at our grandparent's house and turned it on. Turned out to be one really good indie flick full of mystery and even a little twists and surprises. Writer/director Brian King did a great job with this low budget flick and really brought out some great stuff. I would love to explain some of the stuff that happens here from this film but I don't want to give anything away.

I have to say that I hope I am not hyping this up to much it is just that I really did enjoy this movie. All the actors were great here with Danny Glover being awesome as usual and Steve Zahn bringing forth a great performance. Still I have to say that Leelee Sobieski really surprised me here turning in an MVP worthy performance. I won't give anything away but she did a great job here as did every one else. And although you can see the budget restraints when we see the out side of the train I have to say I love the look of the inside. Plus add in some great atmosphere and you have one great flick. I will say that this movie reminds me of the "Twilight Zone", very fun. I do recommend this movie and go in just expecting it to be a cool little indie flick.

US-German-Romanian production "Night Train" opens like a dark, noir-like thriller set in a night train running through the snow on Christmas Eve, on which two passengers Chloe (Leelee Sobieski) and Peter (Steve Zahn), and a veteran conductor Miles (Danny Glover) stumble upon a mysterious box. The box, which seems to contain something valuable, actually belongs to a stranger who has just passed away on the train. So what would they do? Call the next station and report it? Or keep the box for themselves, or perhaps him/herself?

The fast-pace thriller starts promisingly with three main characters who slowly reveal their true personalities to each other. Part of the film's premise might remind us of "Shallow Grave" or "A Simple Plan," but some may remember the classic "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Desire and suspicion play an important role in furthering the story, but there is also a "Twilight Zone"-like supernatural element about the storyline, especially in the second half of it.

That is where the story gets derailed. Writer/director Brian King (writer for Vincenzo Natali's unique thriller "Cypher") is eager to entertain the viewers with actions and surprises, but as the story unfolds, things start to look too incredible, even silly, to take seriously. Also, external shots of the train are shot with special effects and they are not very impressive, making the film's climax less suspenseful than it should be.

To be fair, "Night Train" (Leelee Sobieski and her performance in particular) is not boring. I find the film entertaining enough, but maybe not in the way originally intended.

"night Train" is a good thriller/sci/fi flick that has some very good actors and a decent enough budget to be fun viewing. The movie could have been made at anytime in history though; as the story of people driven mad by greed and disposing of each other is a old one. The location this time is a train and the thriller aspect uses the claustrophobic nature of a train to good effect. At first the movie plays like a typical greed thriller when a passenger dies and everyone wants what he has. the viewer is left to wonder if it's 'diamonds", "gold", or something else?; So for a long while this movie doesn't let on it's science fiction aspects and that only adds a twist to the whole procedings. The train the chaarcters are on is obviously a computer generated imageor cgi train except for the interior shots, but it looks good enough; and on blu ray the whole movie of course looks as good as it can. The cast are all seasoned veterans like Danny Glover, Leelee Sobieski, and Steve Zhan are engaging enough to carry the movie to it's conclusion. This movie is a b movie with a higher budget than most of them and while it's not a great flick it's a good one and it's message about greed is timeless even with a sci-fi element added into it. Of course the best greed movie ever is probably 'The Treasure of the Sierra madre' with Humphrey Bogart , and that one should be seen by everyone. This one is good enough to watch and enjoy though due to it's fine cast

Characters are a little oddball. Plot is strange. Much of the acting is quite good. I thought it was a little weird at first but the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated its uniqueness.

The film as a whole is really exciting and engaging. This is odd in a way, because so many of its individual parts are flawed. The acting is flat, the script derivative, the CGI amateurish, the soft focus cinematography distracting and the production design over-the-top. Together, however, they work really well. As if a whole bunch of negatives cancel each other out into one big positive.

Whatever. The train exteriors are all CGI. These could have been a bit more realistic - it is painfully obvious that it is CGI. That said, once you suspend your disbelief, the analogy between a high speed journey through an anonymous void to a date with a disastrous destiny, is well made by that speeding train.

The acting here and there is a tad wooden, as if the shoot was not only out of sequence but also interrupted and maybe even with a script that was being written as they went. They are playing it flat and neutral because not only do they not know what's ahead of the scene they're working on, but they may also not know what preceded any given scene. I don't actually know that's what happened, but with great actors like these, it's hard to understand otherwise why they are so flat.

The CGI also kind of suggests that they started without a finished script. The 30 odd CGI exteriors are non-progressive - the overwhelming majority of them could have been cut in anywhere in the narrative and they are only there for atmosphere and to give the audience a break from the actors and interior sets.

Night Train is unique. And for that reason alone is worth watching. I found that once I bought into its semi-flawed elements, I was in for a real narrative treat.