Terror Train: Forgotten 80's Slasher classic?
 

Its amazing how many people sadly don't know this film exists. Compared to other films with Jamie Lee Curtis in them at the time like the first two Halloweens, The Fog and Prom Night, this one seems to sink under the radar.

What is there to hate here? Its 80’s slasher cinema at its near best, the only slasher films I can think of from this decade which either match or surpass it are A Nightmare on Elm Street, My Bloody Valentine and perhaps two or three of the Friday the 13ths (arguably The Fog but its debatable whether or not thats a slasher film, personally I say no).

Jamie Lee Curtis is in this at the very height of her horror career. One of few redeeming qualities in Prom Night she doesn’t disappoint here either. She is really strong in this movie and genuinely likeable along with most of the other characters, or good enough as their characters so you hate them like with Doc. Ben Johnson is in this also as the train conductor and he does a good job here as an authority like figure trying to keep everything under control. David Copperfield, the real life illusionist, is also here. He’s playing a character just called “the magician” so basically he’s playing himself. The magic scenes he performs in are pretty cool to watch.

The cinematography is fantastic here, which is expected, given that John Alcott previously worked on A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon and the Shining. It really looks fantastic and is shot very well, helping add a lot of claustrophobia, as you would expect in a train setting.

It isn’t gory, not really. But like Halloween I don’t think it’s a film which really needs any gore. The suspense and everything else more than makes up for it, including yet another good film score.

Regarding the (obvious) killer and the ending...



Its a 10 out of 10 for me. Definitely one of my personal favourite Slasher films of all time and horror films of all time: more people need to see this! (I try to watch 31 horror films every October. Of the 31 horror films I watched last year this one was included. Only The Thing, The Fog and Hatchet II ranked higher in my estimation out of the other 30 films)

Personally i think Terror Train is awful.

The fact it's not remotely scary and has no gore or even atmosphere which makes it utterly redundant as a slasher film.

I remember swapping my region one copy with Pete for something as he'd never seen it. He was less than impressed too.

Nice write up though Gothmogxx for a film you clearly enjoy.

I thought Terror Train was merely okay. I'd probably watch it again, but wouldn't actively seek it out.

As Dem says, nice write-up though.

I rather like Terror Train, and it has a great reveal and climax. I think it's miles better than the overrated Prom Night personally, which completely wastes JLC.

FAR better than Prom Night.
Attempts to do something different with the usual set-up.

I thought it was ok not the greatest slasher flick but not many horror movies are set on a train but thought it inspired the 2008 movie Train

Train! Now that's one really bad movie.

I thought it was good, far better than Snakes on a train

Good? It's awful. Such a hackneyed and stupid plot. Who the hell boards a train run by Nazi skinhead yobs in the first place? That's just the first of many plot holes.

As for it being better than Snakes on a Train - a 48 hour Jonah Hill marathon is better than that.

I can't really comment on Jonah Hill only seen two movies with him in it, the concept of the movie using a train to harvest organs is a better plot than Paradise Lost. Not the best movie but Melissa George in a bikini did sell the movie