I grew up as a child hiding behind the couch whenever Lon
Chaney Jr. began to change into the wolf man. I don’t know why but for me that
was a terrifying image as a child. As I grew older the werewolf movie became
one of my favorites in the horror genre. While others loved AN AMERICAN
WEREWOLF IN LONDON I was singing the praises of THE HOWLING. Many hated THE
WOLFMAN with Benicio Del Toro I thought it was a nice homage to all the films
that came before it. I’m a huge fan of DOG SOLDIERS. So when I heard there was
a new werewolf movie being released I was ready, willing and able. It’s nice to
know I wasn’t disappointed.
The story revolves around a passenger train in England that
is making a night trek to various stops in the countryside. The conductor on
this passage is Joe, a young man with little to look forward to and performing
his duties with little enthusiasm. Belittled by his boss he does what is
required and little more. He does have an eye for another employee on the
train, Ellen, but even that doesn’t appear to have any hope of turning into
anything. Once he takes tickets, Joe sets down for a short nap but that is
interrupted when the train comes to a screeching halt. It appears something has
happened to stop the train and the driver is going to check and see what was on
the tracks.
Within moments the driver is attacked and killed by
something and the train passengers are left to complain and become agitated
because they want nothing more than to get home. When Joe and Ellen can’t give
them the answers they want or tell them where the driver is they begin to make
decisions on their own. Led by a blustery businessman they force Joe to open
the door and then head down the tracks to the nearest town 2 miles away. As
they make their trek Joe and Ellen come upon the disemboweled body of the
driver and tell the passengers to head back to the train immediately. They do
so to the howls of a nearby wolf and almost all make it in with the exception
of an older woman whose leg is caught in the door. That turns into a battle for
her body as she is lifted up and down from something outside until they finally
get her in, her leg a mangled mess.
Still having no idea what they are up against the passengers
begin to turn on one another first and then on Joe and Ellen. With the train
disabled they have nowhere to go and rather than sit helpless their focus
becomes on of nothing but their complaints until the husband of the elderly
woman tells them to shut up. Rather than argue with one another they begin to
try and figure out just what to do. When a cell phone begins ringing, the only
phone to get reception, rather than be calm they all rush the young girl with
the phone who is then pulled from the train as the first seen werewolf breaks
through a window to take her.
Now knowing what they face, or denying it depending on the
person, they just work together to survive. As the film progresses we get to
know each of them as a person rather than a mob. We get glimpses into who can
be trusted and who might be questionable. And before the night is through we
finally get to see the werewolves in all their beastly glory walking along the
train or trying to get to the passengers. It gives the term “meals on wheels” a
whole new meaning.
The movie works on so many levels. The interaction between
the members of the train is first and foremost as various passengers and
employees try to vie for control of the group. The claustrophobia of the
compartmentalized train that holds little safety and offers the sense of their
surrounding squeezing in around them takes on a personality of its own. And the
sheer horror of a stranded group trying to survive the night while under attack
from a much stronger assailant makes for a terrifying concept.
It all comes together quite nicely in this film that I have
little doubt played in few theaters which is a shame. Having seen some of the
horror films that have actually made it to theaters I can tell you that this
one is much better than a number of those. It was one of those movies where
while the remote was nearby I never once found myself wanting to fast forward
at any time while the movie played. With many unknown horror films that’s
something rare these days. This film didn’t feel like there was filler. It felt
like each component was there for a reason and they all worked.
The performances were well done by all. There are some
characters you feel for and others you wish would get killed first instead of
later. None can be singled out as best. What can be said is that Sean Pertwee
as the driver felt wasted here. I’m a fan of Pertwee (who was in the fantastic
werewolf film DOG SOLDIERS) and wished we would have had more of him here.
One of the telling factors in any werewolf movie though is
the werewolf itself. In this case they’ve done a great job with what I would
have to assume was a small budget. Not only were the sequences with the actor
in make-up done well the later scenes of the werewolves outside of the train
using CGI to give them the wolf haunches was done excellently as well.
I’ve seen some reviews of this that weren’t too favorable
and I’m left wondering why. While it might not be the greatest movie ever made
or even compare to DOG SOLDIERS or THE HOWLING, it is well made, interesting
and a nice addition to the genre. I think this is one that I can watch again
and for me that raises it above many highly praised horror films. This one was
a treat.
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