HORROR EXPRESS: FINALLY A SOLID VERSION!

Movie fans are willing to excuse a lot of things in order to have a copy of a good movie or the chance of finding one among many. So it was that the movie HORROR EXPRESS was found in numerous version and variations among the many multi-movie packs that are on sale everywhere, those 100 movies for $20 compilations. Don’t get me wrong the movies aren’t all that bad with no restorations done and involving scratches and dialogue dropouts as well as fuzzy pictures, but at least the movies included were there. That all changes with Arrow Video’s release of this film on blu-ray. As always Arrow has done an amazing job.

If you’ve never seen the film it stars Christopher Lee as Prof. Sir Alexander Saxton, a renowned anthropologist returning from the China/Russia area of the world via the Trans-Siberian Express. He’s discovered the frozen remains of what could be the missing link and is returning with it crated and sealed in chains in the baggage compartment.

Also on board the same train is Doctor Wells (Peter Cushing), Saxton’s friend, rival and fellow member of the Royal Geological Society. There is no nefarious reason for his being here, it is pure coincidence. This doesn’t mean his curiosity isn’t piqued by Saxton’s crate. Before leaving the station on their trip a thief is found dead, his eyes completely white. No one knows what happened to him but it foreshadows events to come.

As the train begins its journey we learn who else is on board, from an Eastern Orthodox monk to a Polish count and countess to a police inspector. As the passengers become acquainted with one another strange things begin happening with Saxton’s crate. Wells has paid the baggage handler to get a peek at what’s in the box and the end result is the handler dying, his eyes pure white like the thief’s earlier, and the creature within the box missing. The monk claims it is unholy and the rest attempt to track down whatever was in the crate.

More murders follow and eventually a telegraph is sent for help. This reaches a Cossack officer named Captain Kazan (Telly Savalas) who boards the train with his men as it arrives near his post. But even the forceful Kazan is no match for the creature. It is only after he boards that we learn what and where it is from.

With Lee and Cushing as the main stars one would assume this was a Hammer film but far from it. The movie was an Italian/Spanish co-production that had secured the pair to work on the film. Of special note is that Cushing while set to be in the film almost wasn’t as he was still distraught over the recent loss of his wife. It was Lee who stepped in to talk to his old friend and convince him to carry on. This was not Lee attempting to save the film so much as displaying his concern for his friend.

The budget on the film was low but you’d never know it from the sets and costumes used here. Granted the majority of the film takes place on the interiors of a train but I’ve seen films that were terrible trying the same thing. Here they got their bang for the buck in the way the film sets look. It all contributes to making the film that more believable. But many will say that the story itself lends itself to the unbelievable. To those I say show me a lightsaber and we’ll talk.

The script has a few minor holes but the performances on hand more than make up for that. Lee and Cushing, always seen as foes in previous films, work well together here as rivals but still friends. They complement one another quite well. In the hands of lesser actors the film would have suffered but they help it rise above what it is. The end result is a movie that is a lot of fun and one that fans have loved for years, clamoring for a better version. Now they have it.

Arrow Video is releasing the film on blu-ray with a new 2k scan of original film elements. And, as is always the case, they’re including a number of great extras that will entertain fans as well. Included are a new audio commentary track with Stephen Jones and Kim Newman, an introduction to the film by journalist and HORROR EXPRESS super-fan/director Eugenio Martin, “Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express” an interview with director Martin, “Notes from the Blacklist” an interview with producer Bernard Gordon on working in Hollywood during the McCarthy era, “Telly and Me” an interview with composer John Cacavas, the original theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve with newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys and for the first pressing only a fully illustrated collector’s booklet with new writing by Adam Scovell.

My guess is that many of you have seen this film at one time or another. It has aired on plenty of horror host programs and late night television as well as being included in those compilations packs I mentioned. But it’s never looked this good or this clean. I’m glad to now have it in my collection and my guess is you will too. Look for it and order it.

Click here to order.