NIGHT TRAIN is a suspenseful dark thriller which seems to be, at first sight, just a story of crime and greed. Then it takes a major twist when the main characters realize that the box they are trying to steal has different "jewels", depending of whom had looked inside it After this moment the film enters in the supernatural/paranormal field. And that was not bad Not at all! Since then it gains more suspense and interest (at least in my point of view) and what seemed to be an average and quite boring crime story turned into a different and refreshing supernatural plot based in the Pandora's box myth. It's not an excellent film but it has its moments and nice suspense until the end, which is not that unexpected but is quite satisfactory in my perspective. I score it 7/10, because it was quite entertaining, suspenseful and even a bit refreshing as told.
55 Reviews
Leelee is molten
dave-sturm13 October 2009
Leelee Sobieski is the main reason for seeing this low-budget train thriller. From a mousy medical student in a watch cap in the beginning to a cleaver-wielding, blood-spattered maiden of death by the end, she gives a performance of unsettling ferocity.
A train has stopped in the darkness during a snowstorm and two conductors, one of them Danny Glover in decent-guy mode, are on the tracks smoking when a man clutching a package stumbles out of the woods. The conductors allow him on board with the understanding he'll buy his ticket later. Once aboard, the stranger settles in a lounge car, where he swallows a bunch of pills, washing them down with vodka. Next thing you know, he's dead of an overdose.
Only two other people were in the lounge car to witness this, an alcoholic salesman played by Steve Zahn in his usual goofball-loser mode and a medical student with a studious, ultra-serious demeanor played by Sobieski. They call the death to the attention of the conductor played by Glover.
They become curious about the man's package and look inside. It contains a small wooden box with perforations allowing them to see what's inside, which is apparently worth a king's ransom because everybody who looks inside gasps in wonder. This is our macguffin and it serves much the same purpose as the briefcase in "Pulp Fiction." It doesn't really matter what's inside; you just know everybody wants it.
The three conspire. First order of business -- disposing of the body (black, black humor). Then things get complicated. Turns out the three conspirators are not the only ones who knew the stranger was on the train with his package. You know nothing good is going to come of this and you are absolutely right. Betrayal. Mayhem. Murder.
In order to enjoy this movie, you have to overlook a lot of major implausibilities. For such a long train, there's hardly anyone aboard. Plot points involving night ice fishing and murderous electrical tape are also hard to swallow.
All the exteriors of the train hurtling down the track at what looks like 200 mph are cheap CGI. Doesn't matter. We get it -- fast train, darkness, lots of snow, in the middle of nowhere.
And then there's Leelee Sobieski, icily delivering lines with blood on her face and insanity in her eyes. Whoa.
A train has stopped in the darkness during a snowstorm and two conductors, one of them Danny Glover in decent-guy mode, are on the tracks smoking when a man clutching a package stumbles out of the woods. The conductors allow him on board with the understanding he'll buy his ticket later. Once aboard, the stranger settles in a lounge car, where he swallows a bunch of pills, washing them down with vodka. Next thing you know, he's dead of an overdose.
Only two other people were in the lounge car to witness this, an alcoholic salesman played by Steve Zahn in his usual goofball-loser mode and a medical student with a studious, ultra-serious demeanor played by Sobieski. They call the death to the attention of the conductor played by Glover.
They become curious about the man's package and look inside. It contains a small wooden box with perforations allowing them to see what's inside, which is apparently worth a king's ransom because everybody who looks inside gasps in wonder. This is our macguffin and it serves much the same purpose as the briefcase in "Pulp Fiction." It doesn't really matter what's inside; you just know everybody wants it.
The three conspire. First order of business -- disposing of the body (black, black humor). Then things get complicated. Turns out the three conspirators are not the only ones who knew the stranger was on the train with his package. You know nothing good is going to come of this and you are absolutely right. Betrayal. Mayhem. Murder.
In order to enjoy this movie, you have to overlook a lot of major implausibilities. For such a long train, there's hardly anyone aboard. Plot points involving night ice fishing and murderous electrical tape are also hard to swallow.
All the exteriors of the train hurtling down the track at what looks like 200 mph are cheap CGI. Doesn't matter. We get it -- fast train, darkness, lots of snow, in the middle of nowhere.
And then there's Leelee Sobieski, icily delivering lines with blood on her face and insanity in her eyes. Whoa.
Cud have been an awesome thriller but alas.
Fella_shibby25 September 2023
I saw this for the first time recently. Was on my radar for a little time.
I like horror n thriller movies set in a moving train.
I dont kno why people have taken the names of Strangers on a Train n The Lady Vanishes or Maltese Falcon cos these movies are great n Night Train is a just a small lil thriller.
Midnight Meat Train came to my mind while viewing the dvd cover n when I started the movie Polar Express came to my mind.
The movie is predictable especially regarding the fellow passengers n even more predictable with the lady with a dog.
The scene where they transport the dead body from one compartment to another n that too while trying to evade other fellas, lacks tension n looks very foolish.
We have Matthias Schweighöfer before he became famous aft Army of Thieves.
I like horror n thriller movies set in a moving train.
I dont kno why people have taken the names of Strangers on a Train n The Lady Vanishes or Maltese Falcon cos these movies are great n Night Train is a just a small lil thriller.
Midnight Meat Train came to my mind while viewing the dvd cover n when I started the movie Polar Express came to my mind.
The movie is predictable especially regarding the fellow passengers n even more predictable with the lady with a dog.
The scene where they transport the dead body from one compartment to another n that too while trying to evade other fellas, lacks tension n looks very foolish.
We have Matthias Schweighöfer before he became famous aft Army of Thieves.
Christmas Death Train
Chrysanthepop16 February 2009
'Night Train' is sort of a chamber movie that takes place in the compartments of a train. Made at a low budget (which actually works to its benefits), the film uses glowing lights. This adds to the tense atmosphere and mystery element and the bright colours used within the train compartments bring a feeling of illusion. The story starts off interesting but is downright predictable not to forget the typical Hollywood ending which brings the film down by a huge notch. Acting is okay. Danny Glover is restrained (which is quite unexpected of such films). Steve Zahn's Pete is a caricature but the actor infuses some humour and provides comic relief. Leelee Sobieski is good in the beginning but her performance heads towards 'cliched psychopath' as the film proceeds. Overall, in terms of story it doesn't offer anything new and there are plenty of plot holes but what I liked about it was the atmosphere within the train compartments. It sort of looks like a noire film in colour. The use of bright colours, the strange passengers, the characters: salesman, med student and ticket conductor and music create contribute to this bizarre atmosphere. I also liked how the wooden box was symbolically used. Pandora's box is the first thing that comes to mind and the writer could have done so much with it, but alas!
Quirky
sergepesic14 November 2010
" Night Train" is a quirky and hard to define movie, but nevertheless an enjoyable experience. Its seems to be a dedication to the golden oldies of the 1940's, the era of Peter Lorre , Sidney Greenstreet and other amazing character actors that all but disappeared these days. The plot is a strange mix of thriller, comedy ,slasher and even religious metaphor about greed. And, unfortunately it is where some of its troubles begun. The talented director seems to hop from one genre to another like a confused fly. It adds to a certain level of frustration in this little irritated albeit good natured viewer. To sum it up: I'll rather have a bit troubled effort than stale and predictable rubbish.
OK Low Budget Noirish Flick, But Falls Short
Jakealope4 April 2010
It definitely is not some first run Hollywood flick, but it had good American actors and not a horrible plot. You see this mysterious stranger dies on a train, and only three people see him. Well he has this mysterious box, oh so evil, that warps each person's mind with dreams of riches then sows strife amongst the passengers who are trying to claim it. It has horror elements to it, the original box bearer was hacked up after death to aid in the disposal of the body by Leelee Sobieski, some buttoned down pre-med student severely bitten by the greed bug. Danny Glover is the train's conductor who tries to be all moral and fair, and Steve Zahn plays his trademark loser rogue role as a drunken salesman who sees his big break. Of course, the dead man has others trailing him who too were smitten by the greed thing. And soon more bodies start piling up on top of the first one who was an accidental drug overdose. The ending really was sort of a let down, it's like everyone on the train was somehow already or got involved and started shooting everything and everyone to pieces as the box exerted its malignant supernatural influence all around, even on the people who didn't peer inside, which is what hooks someone on the greed hate thing. The noirish, creepy atmosphere set design, a mix of modern and 1940s, was interesting and the cgi animation of the exterior shots of the train winding down line in the snow were adequate for the film. It was made in Bulgaria. But the lame ending, when they needed to concentrate on the initial triumvirate of conspirators, made it fall short of the mark. It could have become a good cult film with a better ending, not just endless twists of the supporting cast popping as greed treasure seekers to create more mayhem.
Though atmospheric, ultimately disappoints
krigler17 January 2009
I'm a fan of low budget film-making and I am convinced that from the truly talented filmmakers monetary limitations bring out the best in terms of creativity.
Night Train is basically a chamber piece. The whole story takes place within the compartments of a long train riding relentlessly through the darkness on Christmas eve. All the exterior shots are rather cheap looking CGI of the passenger train going ahead in the snow blizzard which in itself is not distracting, on the contrary - the darkness outside increases the gloomy, disturbing atmosphere inside the train. The set design is problematic though. The interior of the train makes it look like we're in the past, early in the last century. I was under the impression that that was the case - even the way people dress in the movie fueled this conviction - but then around 40 minutes into the film one of the characters uses a cell phone.
Although the tech credits are okay, by the look of the inside of the train I could see the film was shot somewhere in Eastern Europe and firing up IMDb I saw I was right. So it's not the dodgy CGI but the unnecessarily confusing set design what gives away the low budget of the film.
Plotwise it's all seen it all before. Many people refer to Shallow Grave in the threads here - yes, the setup recalls that movie, but then halfway through the story it takes a turn into a far more mysterious direction. Problem is, up until that time the plot is very predictable and goes through the usual motions (albeit in fast forward, given the time constraints) as characters debate what to do with the dead body and the loot, begin to act suspiciously to each other and to outsiders then ultimately turn on each other. This mechanical plot takes over from characterization, so after the twist in the midpoint when events become less predictable it's hard to really care because the characters remain thin and uninteresting.
Acting is okay, Danny Glover gives a low-key performance that suits the purposes of the film, while Zahn apparently tries to bring out the best of his clichéd role. Leelee Sobielski is quite convincing at first with her deadpan reactions and attitude but later gives a kind of performance which is borderline comic - I am not sure if this was intentional.
The unfortunate set design and some grave credibility issues (I am no expert of US police procedure but the way a detective handles the situation later on in the film seems quite ridiculous, plus even on Christmas it is hard to imagine only a handful of people would take a train that has a dozen carriages, a working bar and kitchen but no other staff than two attendants) make this a slightly worse than average movie.
Night Train is basically a chamber piece. The whole story takes place within the compartments of a long train riding relentlessly through the darkness on Christmas eve. All the exterior shots are rather cheap looking CGI of the passenger train going ahead in the snow blizzard which in itself is not distracting, on the contrary - the darkness outside increases the gloomy, disturbing atmosphere inside the train. The set design is problematic though. The interior of the train makes it look like we're in the past, early in the last century. I was under the impression that that was the case - even the way people dress in the movie fueled this conviction - but then around 40 minutes into the film one of the characters uses a cell phone.
Although the tech credits are okay, by the look of the inside of the train I could see the film was shot somewhere in Eastern Europe and firing up IMDb I saw I was right. So it's not the dodgy CGI but the unnecessarily confusing set design what gives away the low budget of the film.
Plotwise it's all seen it all before. Many people refer to Shallow Grave in the threads here - yes, the setup recalls that movie, but then halfway through the story it takes a turn into a far more mysterious direction. Problem is, up until that time the plot is very predictable and goes through the usual motions (albeit in fast forward, given the time constraints) as characters debate what to do with the dead body and the loot, begin to act suspiciously to each other and to outsiders then ultimately turn on each other. This mechanical plot takes over from characterization, so after the twist in the midpoint when events become less predictable it's hard to really care because the characters remain thin and uninteresting.
Acting is okay, Danny Glover gives a low-key performance that suits the purposes of the film, while Zahn apparently tries to bring out the best of his clichéd role. Leelee Sobielski is quite convincing at first with her deadpan reactions and attitude but later gives a kind of performance which is borderline comic - I am not sure if this was intentional.
The unfortunate set design and some grave credibility issues (I am no expert of US police procedure but the way a detective handles the situation later on in the film seems quite ridiculous, plus even on Christmas it is hard to imagine only a handful of people would take a train that has a dozen carriages, a working bar and kitchen but no other staff than two attendants) make this a slightly worse than average movie.
Surprisingly enjoyable..
AnonymityIsKey20 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this movie because I'm generally not a fan of Leelee Sobieski's work, but I watched it anyway as a way to kill time.
I don't know if it's because I went into the movie with low expectations, but I actually enjoyed it. The acting was fine; I have definitely seen Danny Glover in better roles, but Sobieski actually wasn't terrible & I thought Steve Zahn did a great job. It was suspenseful and interesting with some nice plot twists. I didn't like the kind of supernatural twist the film took near the end, but it was a good fun movie to watch.
I don't know if it's because I went into the movie with low expectations, but I actually enjoyed it. The acting was fine; I have definitely seen Danny Glover in better roles, but Sobieski actually wasn't terrible & I thought Steve Zahn did a great job. It was suspenseful and interesting with some nice plot twists. I didn't like the kind of supernatural twist the film took near the end, but it was a good fun movie to watch.
Slightly surreal train chiller with good build-up but ultimately disappointing
Stefan_Glasgow20 June 2009
A handful of strangers on a late night winter train journey through a blizzard (last train before Christmas kind of thing) observe a last moment arrival onto the train sit down stressed and popping pills. A salesman offers him a dram of vodka from the stash in his briefcase. The stranger dies from the fatal mixture releasing his clutch on a Christmas present which the other train travellers examine. It's a strange old carved wooden box.
Whatever the box contains is not as it seems and its contents has maybe a supernatural ability to affect the passengers who pry which triggers a bizarre and disturbing series of violent crimes. A rather hammy and overacted pseudo-horror.
Whilst the film was strange enough to hold my attention, and surreal enough to almost be interesting, I found the ending confusing and extremely unsatisfying. Apart from the poor ending I would give the rest of the film 6.5 stars.
Whatever the box contains is not as it seems and its contents has maybe a supernatural ability to affect the passengers who pry which triggers a bizarre and disturbing series of violent crimes. A rather hammy and overacted pseudo-horror.
Whilst the film was strange enough to hold my attention, and surreal enough to almost be interesting, I found the ending confusing and extremely unsatisfying. Apart from the poor ending I would give the rest of the film 6.5 stars.
Edge of your seat stuff
jtindahouse18 April 2018
Sometimes the synopsis of a film just calls out to me. I can't always put my finger on exactly what it is, but something just screams at me that I have to see that film. Quite often it leads me down the track of watching some abysmal films, but that was not the case when it came to 'Night Train'. What I found instead was a little gem (so to speak).
I love films set entirely in one place. Always have done. And trains are one of my favourite settings too because although they're all one place, each cabin can be entirely different, and characters can be in the story without a clue as what is actually going on around them. 'Night Train' was a surprisingly suspenseful ride from start to finish. It achieved what very few modern horror/thrillers manage to do and that is to get me on the edge of my seat and keep me there. Leelee Sobieski had a lot to do with this. She was a real presence on the screen and kept me hooked with everything she said and did.
There's a real creepy atmosphere throughout this one. It has very much a 'Twilight Zone' feel to it, only with slightly better actors, a little more action and obviously a touch longer. I also loved the underlying psychology of the story. We really are a strange race sometimes. I loved this film and if you are able to track it down somewhere please give it a watch. You'll be pleased you did.
I love films set entirely in one place. Always have done. And trains are one of my favourite settings too because although they're all one place, each cabin can be entirely different, and characters can be in the story without a clue as what is actually going on around them. 'Night Train' was a surprisingly suspenseful ride from start to finish. It achieved what very few modern horror/thrillers manage to do and that is to get me on the edge of my seat and keep me there. Leelee Sobieski had a lot to do with this. She was a real presence on the screen and kept me hooked with everything she said and did.
There's a real creepy atmosphere throughout this one. It has very much a 'Twilight Zone' feel to it, only with slightly better actors, a little more action and obviously a touch longer. I also loved the underlying psychology of the story. We really are a strange race sometimes. I loved this film and if you are able to track it down somewhere please give it a watch. You'll be pleased you did.
Could have ended it a lot better
ntorbs6 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The buildup throughout the first 3/4 of the movie was good and the potential was there for a number of interesting endings but fell short. The fact all of the main characters die and the box is never really explained makes the movie feel pointless.
Well paced, well acted and suspenseful
nwsts16 January 2009
Leelee Sobieski, Danny Glover, and Steve Zahn give life to their characters as people overcome with greed (or hope) for a better life. What starts out as an innocent "finders keepers" tale turns into a lemming march to destruction.
The story is about three strangers whose lives intersect while traveling at night on a train during the Christmas holidays. Sobieski is Chloe, a biology/med student unhappy with her future prospects of following a career not of her choosing. Danny Glover is the aging conductor whose family is desperately in need of additional financial support that he cannot provide. Zahn is a wannabe salesman whose life story seems to be one of alcohol abuse and failure. The story swirls around these strangers as they try to hold onto a box of riches which can fulfill their dreams.
Although obviously a low budget production, the suspense is well paced, the action sequences are timed perfectly and the characters are all empathetic (especially Glover's character, the conductor). Only one fault I find with the movie is a couple of minutes of totally unnecessary gore. Otherwise a solid piece of film making and storytelling.
The story is about three strangers whose lives intersect while traveling at night on a train during the Christmas holidays. Sobieski is Chloe, a biology/med student unhappy with her future prospects of following a career not of her choosing. Danny Glover is the aging conductor whose family is desperately in need of additional financial support that he cannot provide. Zahn is a wannabe salesman whose life story seems to be one of alcohol abuse and failure. The story swirls around these strangers as they try to hold onto a box of riches which can fulfill their dreams.
Although obviously a low budget production, the suspense is well paced, the action sequences are timed perfectly and the characters are all empathetic (especially Glover's character, the conductor). Only one fault I find with the movie is a couple of minutes of totally unnecessary gore. Otherwise a solid piece of film making and storytelling.
Thrilling,exciting,but only if you don't expect much from the ending.
chrichtonsworld20 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
If it hadn't been for the ending I would have given this movie a much higher rating. I don't mind bad or harsh endings if there had been any compensation earlier on. But if it ends like it did you will wonder why you were watching this movie. There are only two endings that would have made more sense. The first one where someone would receive the reward or the second one where we the viewer would get explained what the whole box thing was about. I mean at least the viewer should be rewarded for watching this movie in the first place. It felt like watching "The Happening" all over again. A very thrilling and exciting movie in which you are presented with a mystery that you want to see solved. Only to be let down with the notion that all the events you have been witnessing will start all over again in another form in another place with no explanation whatsoever. Does this mean that it isn't worth watching. Well,I must admit that I didn't expect to be thrilled like this at all. But the acting is quite excellent and you will be rooting for the characters to get away with what is going down on the screen. If you can get past the ending than you will have an enjoyable time.
Hitchcockian wannabe plays like an overlong Twilight Zone episode...
MrGKB9 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
...and I could almost hear the trademark Serling voice-over as the film faded to black. Sadly, "Night Train" falls well short of the bars raised by these iconic men, and ultimately remains forgettable make-work. The presence of a name-brand character actor of stature (Danny "Lethal Weapon" Glover), several recognizable B-listers (Steve "Rescue Dawn" Zahn and Leelee "Eyes Wide Shut" Sobieski), and even the geek factor of Richard "Rocky Horror Picture Show" O'Brien in drag can't save this derivative example of Sturgeon's Revelation. Production values are slim, giving the film a made-for-TV look, the direction, acting, and cinematography are tolerable if uninspired (I'm guessing the leads took their roles for the opportunity of an Eastern European vacation), and the script chugs along well enough, despite the rash of contrivances and yawning holes. "Night Train" would have probably been better by tightening it up to an hour or so for TV presentation. Not awful, but could have been so much better. Easily avoidable, even for Leelee geeks.
Hitchcock Hitchcock Hitchcock
rooprect7 May 2014
In the cast & crew interviews on the DVD, the name "Hitchcock" is mentioned by multiple people multiple times. Whether or not "Night Train" will strike you as a Hitchcockian thriller, one thing can be said without a doubt: it was highly, brazenly, unapologetically influenced by the master of suspense, old Alfie.
That means it contains all of the following: suspense, action, comedy, innuendo, morality, heaps of character psychology, psychosis, an amusingly pompous Victorian old lady or two (recall that Hitchcock was schooled by nuns) and another Hitchcock trademark: a little dog. Those are the superficial similarities, and yes, you can watch this film simply for its entertainment value and have a great time. But to me, the beauty of Hitchcock and similarly "Night Train" is that you can dig below the surface and have a great time experiencing what the story is really about.
For the sake of this review, I'll assume that describes you if you read further. If not, the other reviews here on IMDb have covered the bases as far as entertainment value. On that point I'll just summarize by saying that this is a very fast-paced, interesting, sometimes-gory-sometimes-humorous, dreamlike film that will keep your attention from start to finish, even though the story is linear. It packs enough twists to keep things at a boil until the end.
Now about the deeper themes, the real substance that made films like Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train", "Blackmail" and "Rope" such classics. This movie has a simple story that revolves around a bunch of people fighting over a "MacGuffin". A "Macguffin" is a term Hitchcock used to describe the central object that makes everyone act the way they do, and yet, it doesn't matter what it is. What matters is how characters react to it. In spy movies, the Macguffin was often the microfilm or the secret files. In crime capers, the Macguffin is usually money or jewels. In "Night Train" the Macguffin is simply a wooden box. Thus, the director is making a sort of joke, telling us "it don't get any more 'Macguffin' than this, folks!" Once we accept the premise that everyone is fighting over this box, we understand what the real film is about. It's about how people change when consumed by desire for something. Note that it's not just about greed, lust or material possession. Instead, it's a bit more complex: the box represents HOPE.
And that, my friends, is what makes this a great film. Pay attention to the different characters and how they react to the promise of their own greatest hope. Not everyone turns into ruthless killers (although, as you can guess, at least one person does!). A few characters become remarkably more human when infused with hope. I won't say who they are for fear of ruining it, but let's just say the acting was fantastic.
If you're starting to nod off, don't worry. There are a few murders, a bunch of blood, maybe a decapitation or two, Leelee Sobieski showing some skin (though no outright nudity), some very tense action and some genuinely funny moments (the satirical humor, as if sometimes poking fun at all the thriller clichés, is a lot of fun).
Filmed entirely in East Europe--almost completely on board a train which was built specifically for this film--the movie carries a timeless, location-less, surreal vibe as if in a dream. Certain props are antique looking while other elements are distinctly modern. That is to say, "Night Train" is completely cut off from reality, and that's the way it should be approached. It's really like a fable more than a traditional thriller story.
If you're a fan of the old Hitchcock flicks as well as John Huston ("The Maltese Falcon") and others of that genre, you should check out "Night Train" for a fun, modern spin on that classic way of storytelling.
That means it contains all of the following: suspense, action, comedy, innuendo, morality, heaps of character psychology, psychosis, an amusingly pompous Victorian old lady or two (recall that Hitchcock was schooled by nuns) and another Hitchcock trademark: a little dog. Those are the superficial similarities, and yes, you can watch this film simply for its entertainment value and have a great time. But to me, the beauty of Hitchcock and similarly "Night Train" is that you can dig below the surface and have a great time experiencing what the story is really about.
For the sake of this review, I'll assume that describes you if you read further. If not, the other reviews here on IMDb have covered the bases as far as entertainment value. On that point I'll just summarize by saying that this is a very fast-paced, interesting, sometimes-gory-sometimes-humorous, dreamlike film that will keep your attention from start to finish, even though the story is linear. It packs enough twists to keep things at a boil until the end.
Now about the deeper themes, the real substance that made films like Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train", "Blackmail" and "Rope" such classics. This movie has a simple story that revolves around a bunch of people fighting over a "MacGuffin". A "Macguffin" is a term Hitchcock used to describe the central object that makes everyone act the way they do, and yet, it doesn't matter what it is. What matters is how characters react to it. In spy movies, the Macguffin was often the microfilm or the secret files. In crime capers, the Macguffin is usually money or jewels. In "Night Train" the Macguffin is simply a wooden box. Thus, the director is making a sort of joke, telling us "it don't get any more 'Macguffin' than this, folks!" Once we accept the premise that everyone is fighting over this box, we understand what the real film is about. It's about how people change when consumed by desire for something. Note that it's not just about greed, lust or material possession. Instead, it's a bit more complex: the box represents HOPE.
And that, my friends, is what makes this a great film. Pay attention to the different characters and how they react to the promise of their own greatest hope. Not everyone turns into ruthless killers (although, as you can guess, at least one person does!). A few characters become remarkably more human when infused with hope. I won't say who they are for fear of ruining it, but let's just say the acting was fantastic.
If you're starting to nod off, don't worry. There are a few murders, a bunch of blood, maybe a decapitation or two, Leelee Sobieski showing some skin (though no outright nudity), some very tense action and some genuinely funny moments (the satirical humor, as if sometimes poking fun at all the thriller clichés, is a lot of fun).
Filmed entirely in East Europe--almost completely on board a train which was built specifically for this film--the movie carries a timeless, location-less, surreal vibe as if in a dream. Certain props are antique looking while other elements are distinctly modern. That is to say, "Night Train" is completely cut off from reality, and that's the way it should be approached. It's really like a fable more than a traditional thriller story.
If you're a fan of the old Hitchcock flicks as well as John Huston ("The Maltese Falcon") and others of that genre, you should check out "Night Train" for a fun, modern spin on that classic way of storytelling.
The Corruption of the Soul
claudio_carvalho26 April 2009
On a snowing Christmas Eve, a stranger embarks in the night train Nightingale at Fall Brook Station and has a heart attack after an overdose on pills and vodka. The medical student Chloe (Leelee Sobieski) and the drunken salesman Peter Dobbs (Steve Zahn) see a mysterious box with the stranger with valuable stones inside and convince the stiff conductor Miles (Danny Glover) to not report the death of the passenger and keep the box for them. Chloe chops the corpse with a cleaver; put the severed parts in a trunk and Peter and Miles dump it from a bridge into the Sturgeon River; however they do not succeed in opening the box. Therefore Chloe does not get off the train in Maple Creek, but the passenger Mr. Gutman (Constantine Gregory) embarks seeking out the stranger. He subdues the greedy trio and discloses that everyone that sees inside the box dies until the end of the day; but Peter accidentally kills him. When they have an unscheduled stop by the police that had found the body parts in the river, the number of corpses increases in a travel without return.
"Night Train" has an intriguing plot with a mysterious Pandora box that corrupts the soul of bizarre characters. The weird story has a promising beginning with black humor and an excellent character – Chloe – that is wasted to a collection of clichés in the end. Unfortunately the director and writer Brian King loses control and derails with his "Night Train" to a very deceptive conclusion without any explanation about the content of the mystical box. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Viagem Sem Volta" ("Travel Without Return")
"Night Train" has an intriguing plot with a mysterious Pandora box that corrupts the soul of bizarre characters. The weird story has a promising beginning with black humor and an excellent character – Chloe – that is wasted to a collection of clichés in the end. Unfortunately the director and writer Brian King loses control and derails with his "Night Train" to a very deceptive conclusion without any explanation about the content of the mystical box. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Viagem Sem Volta" ("Travel Without Return")
there is something about this movie
jacexs30 January 2009
I didn't know what to expect of this movie. The reason I chose it was probably the fact that it features Danny Glover. I didn't even bother to check the comments out and I am glad I didn't.
You can tell from the very beginning that this is a low budget movie. All the exterior shots seem a bit awkward. But there is something in them that builds up the gloomy atmosphere of the film. When I was watching it I could help recalling Mikael Håfström's 1408. Those 2 movies are quite similar as far as the suspense and atmosphere,.
Acting is okay. No body stand out. It is the way it should be.
All I can do is recommend this movie to everybody that want to enjoy themselves. Peace!
You can tell from the very beginning that this is a low budget movie. All the exterior shots seem a bit awkward. But there is something in them that builds up the gloomy atmosphere of the film. When I was watching it I could help recalling Mikael Håfström's 1408. Those 2 movies are quite similar as far as the suspense and atmosphere,.
Acting is okay. No body stand out. It is the way it should be.
All I can do is recommend this movie to everybody that want to enjoy themselves. Peace!
Poor effort
Siamois24 July 2009
Director/writer Brian King took a screenplay which, at best, would make for a mediocre hour of TV entertainment (think Outer Limits or Twilight Zone) and made an 80s-style movie out of it.
The direction is uninspired, tensed scene have absolutely no tension. The editing also smacks of the 80s and makes the action scenes stale. The movie would have been better off concentrating on the psychological aspects of the three protagonists and the relationships between all three.
Unfortunately, this is where the movie fails most. With a low budget and no skill for action, one would think Brian King would have concentrated on building an intense cat-and-mouse game between the characters of Miles, Chloe and Peter. But this is not the case.
Danny Glover, Leelee Sobieski and Steve Zahn are all well cast for their respective roles but none of them seems completely invested to deliver an outstanding performance, perhaps due to King's direction and a rather bland script.
Not worth watching unless you do not mind something that looks like a B grade story in the vein of Edgar Allan Poe and Agatha Christie and shot with the aesthetics of 80s TV movies.
All over the world, even in 3rd world countries, people are shooting low budget movies and understand that to compensate for the low budget, one has to have great characters going through interesting situations. Night Train is an example of what guerilla film-making is not about.
The direction is uninspired, tensed scene have absolutely no tension. The editing also smacks of the 80s and makes the action scenes stale. The movie would have been better off concentrating on the psychological aspects of the three protagonists and the relationships between all three.
Unfortunately, this is where the movie fails most. With a low budget and no skill for action, one would think Brian King would have concentrated on building an intense cat-and-mouse game between the characters of Miles, Chloe and Peter. But this is not the case.
Danny Glover, Leelee Sobieski and Steve Zahn are all well cast for their respective roles but none of them seems completely invested to deliver an outstanding performance, perhaps due to King's direction and a rather bland script.
Not worth watching unless you do not mind something that looks like a B grade story in the vein of Edgar Allan Poe and Agatha Christie and shot with the aesthetics of 80s TV movies.
All over the world, even in 3rd world countries, people are shooting low budget movies and understand that to compensate for the low budget, one has to have great characters going through interesting situations. Night Train is an example of what guerilla film-making is not about.
Great Twilight Zone Style Thriller
omendata8 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Great little film with a homage to Sidney Greenstreet and Hitchcock.
Good acting from all concerned and a good little mystery.
They could have done without the little girl at the end and just left it with the box closing for the next victim though.
They could have done without the little girl at the end and just left it with the box closing for the next victim though.
A valiant attempt but disappointing...
TheTrueMovieBuff4 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
'Night Train' should be commended for what it attempts to do and how it manages to stay unpredictable. However, it also winds up going all over the place and winds up nowhere.
It starts out like a film noir and the setting on a train is interesting. Danny Glover, Leelee Sobieski and Steve Zahn are a great team and their seamless acting is the best part of the film. However, as the story moves on, the elements of 'Shallow Grave' disappear and supernatural elements creep in. The violence becomes excessive and in the end serves no purpose. It has a low-budget feel but not in a good way - the special effects are deplorable (and since all they had to do was make the train believable, that's awful). The climax makes it all seem like a waste of time.
'Night Train' seems like a film that began with big ideas that got lost somewhere along the way. The final movie falls short on most counts and is difficult to recommend. A flick that tries to be different but winds up as a missed opportunity!
It starts out like a film noir and the setting on a train is interesting. Danny Glover, Leelee Sobieski and Steve Zahn are a great team and their seamless acting is the best part of the film. However, as the story moves on, the elements of 'Shallow Grave' disappear and supernatural elements creep in. The violence becomes excessive and in the end serves no purpose. It has a low-budget feel but not in a good way - the special effects are deplorable (and since all they had to do was make the train believable, that's awful). The climax makes it all seem like a waste of time.
'Night Train' seems like a film that began with big ideas that got lost somewhere along the way. The final movie falls short on most counts and is difficult to recommend. A flick that tries to be different but winds up as a missed opportunity!
Night train or Train of death?
ncere4 February 2009
I've watched this movie few days ago and...well I have to say that I didn't expect much from it ( probably because of it happening in train the whole time or because I didn't know much about the story or something like it... ).
Anyway I probably watched because of the cast...I consider Danny Glover a good actor ( maybe a little forgotten actor by the way...but good nevertheless ,Steve Zahn and Leele Sobieski are also great...
This is basically a low budget movie that looks like it's been filmed in one week,but that shouldn't bother you because the main purpose of this film is a story and it's characters.
Yes I have to agree on some of the comments that I've seen here on IMDb,this movie has some clichés and maybe few weak points,but originality is really rare these days...
So...I don't want to give the story away ( well, I can say the whole story of this movie in one sentence probably... ),but the events around the basic story are what really matters here.
I can't say that there is something generally wrong with this movie and I would probably give it a higher rating,but I can't help the feeling that I've seen this movie or similar movie years ago...
Go see it ( don't have enormous expectations though ),it's a good flick definitely...
Anyway I probably watched because of the cast...I consider Danny Glover a good actor ( maybe a little forgotten actor by the way...but good nevertheless ,Steve Zahn and Leele Sobieski are also great...
This is basically a low budget movie that looks like it's been filmed in one week,but that shouldn't bother you because the main purpose of this film is a story and it's characters.
Yes I have to agree on some of the comments that I've seen here on IMDb,this movie has some clichés and maybe few weak points,but originality is really rare these days...
So...I don't want to give the story away ( well, I can say the whole story of this movie in one sentence probably... ),but the events around the basic story are what really matters here.
I can't say that there is something generally wrong with this movie and I would probably give it a higher rating,but I can't help the feeling that I've seen this movie or similar movie years ago...
Go see it ( don't have enormous expectations though ),it's a good flick definitely...
Simply.... Awful
dpelic18 January 2009
I wish I could get back those 2 hours I lost watching this movie. From the beginning you can tell that it was low budget. All the snow falling is CGA, and not good CGA. Same for all the shots of the train flying into the night, looks like a bad cartoon. The acting was also awful, except maybe for Danny Glover. But he can't save the movie. The surroundings and atmosphere make it seen like you're watching a theater piece, not a movie.
The plot which at first sounds interesting, will by the end of the movie look like a really bad joke played on us, the viewers.
Complete waste of time ! You have been warned.
The plot which at first sounds interesting, will by the end of the movie look like a really bad joke played on us, the viewers.
Complete waste of time ! You have been warned.
Amazing Thrill Ride
chicagopoetry17 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Night Train is a colorful thriller reminiscent of the short lived Amazing Stories series of the mid-eighties. What begins as a Shallow Grave or a A Simple Plan type of thriller, with a group of strangers discovering what they believe to be a fortune--riches that ultimately turn their lives upside down as everything escalates into murder and betrayal--soon twists into a tale of the supernatural, sort of like Hellraiser without the demons. Nobody is who you think they are. Greed becomes a possessing force. The bodies begin to pile up like luggage. Next stop: Boot Hill. Visually Night Train is a demented Polar Express, a train ride that turns into a nightmare rather than a happy adventure. I enjoyed Danny Glover's performance as the conductor; he takes what could have been just another X-File episode and turns it into something top notch, and some extremely nasty violence keeps the plot from being a typical Outer Limits scenario. This is a must see for fans of pulp fiction.
Good suspense flick with a weak ending
em8907200230 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The best aspect of this movie for me was the environment and the atmosphere that it created: traveling in the confinement of a train with few passengers on a cold winter night.
The story was decent enough: one passenger dies of his own accord and is found to be holding a box containing a fortune that others on board decide to steal. Yet, instead of just stealing the box and reporting the natural death, the thieves decide to dispose of the body which leads to a series of complications.
There are two parts of this story that where stumbling blocks for me.
1). The notion that the thieves would dump the body is kind of stupid and over-reactionary.
2). Half way through the movie you learn that the box is somewhat mystical and contains whatever the viewer desires it to, which leads to even more plot turns. I didn't like the mystical aspect.
Overall it was entertaining and suspenseful but with some unfortunate twists that soured the milk.
The story was decent enough: one passenger dies of his own accord and is found to be holding a box containing a fortune that others on board decide to steal. Yet, instead of just stealing the box and reporting the natural death, the thieves decide to dispose of the body which leads to a series of complications.
There are two parts of this story that where stumbling blocks for me.
1). The notion that the thieves would dump the body is kind of stupid and over-reactionary.
2). Half way through the movie you learn that the box is somewhat mystical and contains whatever the viewer desires it to, which leads to even more plot turns. I didn't like the mystical aspect.
Overall it was entertaining and suspenseful but with some unfortunate twists that soured the milk.
This movie sucks
katjoy8126 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I could not get into this movie whatsoever. I kept thinking "what stupid plot line will they try to come up with next?" First, the train is so old, I thought it was a period piece. Then I saw a cell phone. They never explain why this is such an old train still running. The actors are dressed as if they wanted this to be a period piece, especially the first dead guy, who has the mysterious box. No one ever explains why this box is so important, where it comes from (until the Asian guy gives SOME type of explanation, and it all sounds canned). Every time someone looks into the box, I feel like laughing at how stupid they look. Then, sometimes the box is hot, sometimes it's okay to touch. The fact that LeeLee Sobiesky's character is all of a sudden connected to this box by saying "I've been looking for this box for the past 15 years" - what a joke. Then they need to chop up the body, so it will fit into a piece of luggage, instead of just putting it into a sheet, so they can dump it into a river. And then the box hits a fisherman and the body falls out? Come on. Then there's the older "lady" with a dog, which is so easy to see that this is a man dressed up as a woman. For what reason, we never really know, just like with most of the characters in this stupid movie. What a waste of $5 - glad I didn't waste the money at the theatre. Nothing is answered to any depth as to why what is happening, happens. Not recommended unless you want to waste your money and your time.
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