Makes the same mistake so many reimaginings do. It follows the source material too faithfully and in doing so, fails to differentiate itself in any meaningful way. The character names, the storyline, and even some of the costumes are carried over from the previous incarnation. It's fun to see nods to the original in a remake but they tend to work better when peppered in, rather than constant and impossible not to notice. The problems with this reboot extend beyond the filmmakers' desire to retread familiar ground. The characters are also uninspired and there isn't really a standout player to inspire audience investment. This version of Alana (played this time by Robyn Alomar) is kind of spineless. She comes across as a very kind and considerate person but she spends so much of her time doubting herself and apologizing that it's hard to warm to her. She's likable enough on a human level but she doesn't have enough backbone to effectively function as a protagonist. If she doesn't have faith in herself, what reason does the audience have to get behind her?
Review of Terror Train
