Verdict
Summary
Released soon after the smash success of Halloween, capitalizing on star Curtis’ rising scream queen stardom, using the slasher formula to solid effect for yet another winner in the genre. Director Roger Spottiswoode and his photographer John Alcott use the steamy, chilly and dark train setting in a very effective way, making the train feel spooky and an unsafe place to be. Perhaps not as well known as Halloween or some of the better-regarded slashers of the era, this one still retains a sharp edge and a satisfying aura of unhinged revenge.
Plot:
A killer slashes and stalks teens aboard a train.
Review:
Med students board a party train stocked with booze, weed, entertainment, and a murderer! Set three years after a cruel prank ended with a pre-med student losing his mind and thrown into a loony bin, the revelers – four of which were responsible for the prank – have no idea that a slasher (who cleverly uses different party masks) is hunting them down one by one. A possible suspect is the entertainer aboard – an illusionist (played by future magician superstar David Copperfield) – who charms the young med students, namely the pretty Alana (Jamie Lee Curtis) who was one of the few cruel pranksters from three years ago. As the killer mingles with the students and a flummoxed conductor (Ben Johnson) tries to make sense of the killings without alarming the crowd, the “Terror Train” goes full steam ahead into bloodshed and horror!
Released soon after the smash success of Halloween, capitalizing on star Curtis’ rising scream queen stardom, using the slasher formula to solid effect for yet another winner in the genre. Director Roger Spottiswoode and his photographer John Alcott use the steamy, chilly and dark train setting in a very effective way, making the train feel spooky and an unsafe place to be. Perhaps not as well known as Halloween or some of the better-regarded slashers of the era, this one still retains a sharp edge and a satisfying aura of unhinged revenge.
Kino Lorber brings Terror Train to 4K Ultra HD from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, cleaning up the picture in a startlingly beautiful transfer. The two-disc combo pack also comes with a Blu-ray, and special features include two audio commentaries, an interview with Spottiswoode, a trailer, and a slipcover.
