La ragazza del vagone letto

"La ragazza del vagone letto" (1980), directed by Ferdinando Baldi, is a quintessential product of its era, merging eroticism with thriller elements in a manner that is both provocative and perplexing. The film follows the story of a young woman who finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and danger aboard a luxurious overnight train. From the outset, it is clear that Baldi intended to create a tense and sensual atmosphere, and to some extent, he succeeds.

The plot unfolds with a series of encounters that are as steamy as they are suspenseful. The lead actress delivers a performance that oscillates between vulnerability and seduction, effectively capturing the complex emotions of a woman caught in an unpredictable situation. Her interactions with the various passengers-each with their own secrets and motives-drive the narrative forward, creating a tapestry of intrigue that keeps the audience guessing.

Cinematographically, the film leverages the confined setting of the train to amplify the sense of claustrophobia and tension. Baldi's direction is competent, though not groundbreaking, making effective use of close-ups and shadow play to heighten the erotic charge of the scenes. However, the film's pace suffers from occasional lapses into melodrama, with certain scenes dragging on longer than necessary, disrupting the otherwise taut suspense.

The erotic elements, while central to the film's appeal, often feel gratuitous. The nudity and sexual encounters, though tastefully shot, sometimes overshadow the plot rather than enhance it. This aspect might appeal to some viewers but can be seen as detracting from the overall narrative coherence. The balance between eroticism and thriller is delicate, and here it often tips too far towards the former, reducing the impact of the latter.

The supporting cast, though not particularly memorable, fulfills their roles adequately. They serve as pawns in the unfolding mystery, each contributing to the labyrinthine plot that keeps the protagonist-and the audience-on edge. The dialogue, laden with double entendres and subtle hints, adds to the film's charm but occasionally dips into the cliché, reflecting the era's cinematic tendencies.

The soundtrack, a mix of haunting melodies and seductive tunes, complements the visual style, though it occasionally overpowers the scenes it is meant to enhance. The film's technical aspects-lighting, set design, and costume-are handled with a level of professionalism that elevates the production value, despite the overall narrative shortcomings.

In sum, "La ragazza del vagone letto" is a film that straddles the line between eroticism and thriller, offering a glimpse into the genre conventions of the early 1980s. While it has moments of genuine tension and sensuality, it ultimately falls short of being a cohesive masterpiece. It is an interesting watch for those curious about the genre or era but may leave others wanting more substance and less titillation.

If you're going to see this film expecting a thriller you will be disappointed. "La ragazza del vagone letto" (Terror Express), in a literal translation means "The girl of the sleeping car", a title that should already hint what "Terror Express" really is, namely a sleazy comedy. It was somewhat inspired by "Night train murders" by Aldo Lado, a very violent and suspenseful thriller. But "Terror Express" is not a real thriller. Call it, if you want, a sexual thriller.

The story runs like this: Three sleazy thugs board a night train. They succeed in isolating the wagon in which they are from the rest of the train and submit the passengers traveling there to all sort of humiliations; especially the women, that suffer harassment, "rape" etc.. They have a weird sense of humor and play their practical jokes on everybody.

Some of the passengers are:

A couple in crisis, they are always arguing and the beautiful wife is fed up with her husband.

A family – a man, his wife and his daughter. The man secretly lusts for his daughter but never fails to give her moral, admonitory lessons.

A policeman and his handcuffed prisoner.

And the wagon's whore that is in cohorts with the train conductor!

There are still other passengers, but I think that that's enough to give you a taste for pleasures to come.

The three guys that took over the wagon could be defined more as comedians than thugs. Their "violence" consists in jokes, threats (sometimes switchblades are shown) and their real aim seems to be to give as much pleasure as possible to the women that "fall into their clutches", but they can also be nasty clowns.

"Terror Express" is very sleazy and funny - a real sleaze merry-go-round. Now if you take the film at face value you won't like it. Take it as a sexy joke and that's your ticket. Silvia Dionisio, Zora Kerova and Fiammetta Flamini rock! Welcome aboard the sleaze train!

I've got to say, I'm a big fan of these 'Last House on the Left' rip-offs, even the ones that most people seem to hate are often held in relatively high esteem by me; but one of these sorts of films that I didn't like much was Aldo Lado's 'Night Train Murders', and unfortunately it would seem that trains and The Last House on the Left don't mix, as Terror Express is another lacklustre rip-off. Something that this sort of film really needs is a resoundingly nasty lead character; and while Terror Express offers up three potential candidates, not one of them steps up and becomes this villain, leaving the lacking in the most important area. It actually gets off to a good start as three young men on a passenger train begin slightly irritating the guests on board. This leads the audience to believe that there is more in store, but unfortunately it never really gets going once the scene has been set. From there, the trio end up 'taking over' the train and use their new found power to terrorise the guests and rape the women.

It has to be said that there's a fair amount of sleaze in this film, which will be pleasing to many viewers; but there's hardly any blood. Director Ferdinando Baldi seemed to think that he could get away with replacing the blood with sex scenes, and he may have gotten away with it too; if he could film a brutal sex scene. The idea that these men have taken the train by force goes out of the window once it gets to the sex, as the people that you would expect to be powerful and forceful seem all too keen to show their women a good time, and despite one very tame 'sandwich' sequence, none of the sex is particularly interesting. Since a lot of the film is taken up by these sex scenes, this becomes a massive problem. Films like this are often lacking in style, suspense and credibility; but you know you're watching a bad one when it's boring you. As you might expect, none of the acting is up to anything; and the central three in particular stand out for being rubbish. The direction is lacking in style, and there's very little tension or suspense; making it difficult to care what is going to happen. Overall, this is a pretty crappy example of an exploitation film, and I can't recommend it.

La ragazza del vagone letto pulls into the station as a sleazy slice of Italian exploitation cinema that is as lurid as it is claustrophobic. Director Ferdinando Baldi leans heavily on the confined setting of a night train, using the narrow corridors and dimly lit compartments to create a stifling sense of unease. The film's atmosphere is thick with tension, but it is often undercut by its relentless focus on erotic spectacle. Cinematographically, the movie is competent, if unremarkable. Baldi and his team make effective use of close-ups and shadowy lighting to heighten the erotic charge and the feeling of entrapment, but the overall visual style lacks the polish or inventiveness that might have elevated the material. The train setting is used to decent effect, with the camera lingering on the cramped spaces and fleeting glances between passengers, yet the film rarely escapes the visual monotony that comes with such a limited location.

The acting is a mixed bag. Silvia Dionisio stands out as the film's emotional anchor, bringing a vulnerability and complexity to her role that is missing from much of the supporting cast. She manages to convey both fear and resilience, even as the script gives her little to work with beyond the demands of the exploitation genre. Fiammetta Flamini, in a smaller but memorable role, is notable for her extended, gratuitous sex scene, which is shot with a certain boldness but ultimately feels more calculated than provocative. Werner Pochath brings a sweaty menace to his role as one of the thugs, though his performance sometimes veers into caricature. The rest of the ensemble, including Zora Kerova and Carlo De Mejo, fulfill their roles adequately but rarely rise above the film's pulp sensibilities. Dialogue is serviceable, peppered with double meanings and melodrama, but it often slips into cliché, reflecting the era's tendency toward sensationalism over substance.

The film's greatest weakness is its uneven pacing. Moments of suspense are frequently interrupted by lengthy erotic interludes, which, while central to the film's appeal, often feel gratuitous and detract from the narrative momentum. The soundtrack, a mix of moody melodies and seductive cues, sometimes overwhelms the action, further muddying the film's tone. Technical aspects like lighting and set design are handled with a certain professionalism, giving the production a veneer of quality despite its exploitative core.

In summary, La ragazza del vagone letto is a textbook example of late 1970s Italian genre fare: lurid, atmospheric, and occasionally effective, but ultimately hampered by its overindulgence in sleaze at the expense of genuine suspense or character development. Fans of the era's exploitation cinema may find it a guilty pleasure, but those seeking a taut thriller or psychological depth will likely be left cold.

Another sadistic and ultra-sleazy late 70's/early 80's revenge movie?? Wes Craven sure launched a popular trend with his "Last House on the Left" Although "Terror Express" is more like a rip-off of other rip-offs, like "I Spit on your Grave" and especially "Night Train Murders". Storywise, this movie has absolutely nothing new to offer so the only thing left to do for director Ferdinando Baldi was to multiply the sleaze-factor by a thousand! This is actually just a soft core porn flick that gets a little bit rough near the ending. On the night train from Rome are three hopelessly imbecile loser running amok. They provoke the male travelers and sexually harass the females. Things get a little out of control and a traveling convict comes to the rescue of a prostitute who keeps being screwed around by the three. This is a very tame movie and there wasn't even enough budget to buy a couple bags of fake blood. This type of movies is generally infamous for the brutal rape sequences and the discriminating behavior towards women, but the sex in "Terror Express" isn't unsettling at all. On the contrary, these 'rapists' spend more time orally pleasuring their victims then getting some themselves! The music is great, the dialogs are unintentionally hilarious and the characters are the most ridiculous ones I ever beheld. The villains are wimps and the train-passengers are so motionless they look like part of the set. If you like your exploitation as sleazy as it gets, this is your film. However, your hunger for blood and controversy will definitely not be stilled. "Terror Express" should be in the porn-section of videostores.