After the massive success of John Carpenter’s game changing 1978 classic slasher Halloween, everyone tried to replicate its magic, but there were only a few minor gems that came out of this, and personally, I kind of liked Roger Spottiswoode’s 1980 minor gem Terror Train, which is basically “Halloween on a train.”
Buy Terror TrainIt’s New Year’s Eve and a group of college seniors celebrate with a bonfire and the usual pranks, but one prank, orchestrated by Doc (Hart Bochner), involving Kenny (Derek MacKinnon), a geeky and shy youth, where nice girl Alana (Jamie Lee Curtis, continuing her legendary Scream Queen status) lures him with a promise of sex, goes way too far. Three years later, Kenny’s still in a mental hospital, but the others have a costume party on a train for an unforgettable night of sex, drugs, and alcohol. It’s all fun and games until a knife-wielding psychopath hitches a ride and guarantees for some of the students their last night ever.
The Canadian film, seems to have a common formula that started with Friday the 13th, but it has the benefit of another compelling Final Girl performance from icon Curtis (although her character is a far cry from the legendary Laurie Strode), a strong performance from veteran actor Ben Johnson as the conductor, some great photography from esteemed cinematography by John Alcott, a terrific douchebag characterization from actor Bochner, a very young David Copperfield adding some oddity to the refreshing straightforwardness of the plot as a mysterious (and uninvited) magician, and an uncommonly exciting finale that remains of the best in slasher-movie history that adds a bit of psychology than the usual standard fare.
Although the 4K UHD/Blu-ray release (courtesy of Kino) is missing a few interviews from previous releases, it has two new commentaries, one by Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and film historian Jason Pitchansky and the other by film historians Alexandra Heller-Nicolas and Josh Nelson; interviews with Spottiswoode, screenwriter Judith Rascoe, and composer John Mills-Cockell; TV spot and trailers for the film, as well as those for Death Ship, Dust Devil, Mimic, and The Pursuit of D.B. Coopper. The release also benefits from a brand new HDR10 restoration that helps to enhance the film’s mood and atmosphere.
It terms of Halloween knockoffs, Terror Train has a certain charm and creepiness, not to mention the killer’s penchant for wearing different costumes to throw off the audience, that actually sets it apart from those of the same horror cloth. It’s a solid effort from the golden age of slasher films.
