A few years after a prank sends a fraternity pledge to the mental institution, the fraternity has a big party on a train. Why a train? Why not? This idea goes horribly wrong when a costumed killer arrives... how do you escape from a train?
Kenneth Nelson says "its claustrophobic setting, impressively violent killer, and top-notch performance by Jamie Lee Curtis help it stand out from the rest of the pack." Now, I'm no fan of Curtis, though it's hard to deny she was pivotal in 1978-1980 for bringing the title of "scream queen" upon herself. And this film is frankly better than "Prom Night".
Released in 1980, near the beginning of the slasher trend, the idea had not gone stale yet. In fact, had it been released a film years later, it might have kept the subgenre alive longer. Without a school or a neighborhood as the background, this film really stands out as one of a kind. Thirty years later... how many train films have we seen? (Sure, "Midnight Meat Train"...)
A young David Copperfield is the entertainment, with card and coin tricks. He is the real star of the film. Him, the ongoing discussion about what is better: a train or an RV, a conversation which seems surprisingly contemporary.
In short, see this film. I'm not a Jamie Lee Curtis fan, and wish anyone but her had played the part... but she does a decent job, the story is good, the kills are nice... and how often do you see someone get murdered by Groucho Marx?
Kenneth Nelson says "its claustrophobic setting, impressively violent killer, and top-notch performance by Jamie Lee Curtis help it stand out from the rest of the pack." Now, I'm no fan of Curtis, though it's hard to deny she was pivotal in 1978-1980 for bringing the title of "scream queen" upon herself. And this film is frankly better than "Prom Night".
Released in 1980, near the beginning of the slasher trend, the idea had not gone stale yet. In fact, had it been released a film years later, it might have kept the subgenre alive longer. Without a school or a neighborhood as the background, this film really stands out as one of a kind. Thirty years later... how many train films have we seen? (Sure, "Midnight Meat Train"...)
A young David Copperfield is the entertainment, with card and coin tricks. He is the real star of the film. Him, the ongoing discussion about what is better: a train or an RV, a conversation which seems surprisingly contemporary.
In short, see this film. I'm not a Jamie Lee Curtis fan, and wish anyone but her had played the part... but she does a decent job, the story is good, the kills are nice... and how often do you see someone get murdered by Groucho Marx?