The Train of Death

Celebrating her cancer victory, a woman and her sister decide to board a special train headed to a remote luxury hotel in the middle of the woods, but as they continue along find the cars disappearing due to a released demon haunting the tunnels of the trek and must get to safety.

Overall, this one was a fairly fun if problematic genre effort. Among its better qualities is the storyline about ecological horror and the need for preserving the environment within the confines of a traditional supernatural genre effort. The exploration of the demon initially being woken up by a logging company cutting down trees for normal work matters and being angered at the prospect of being forced into a series of encounters with the various passengers on a commercial train trip serves as a great touch. Given that we've already gotten the warning at the very start about the forest being protected while the process is starting before the first trip happens, there's a strong enough hint about the environmental messages that help to tell an intriguing story. The rest of the storylines throughout here, from the sisters coming together from a cancer scare, the one woman looking for her missing husband on the trip, and the gradual discovery of the steward's connection to everything happening at the resort, all manage to help the human drama nicely into a strong storyline. As well, there's a lot to like with some fine suspense sequences throughout here. The idea of using the railroad tunnels being cursed and featuring something unable to be seen yet taking out victims with physical interactions, such as the opening encounter with the worker being absorbed into the tunnel roof or gives it a bit of suspense at points. It all helps the big starting point for the film, where the spirit attacks the train when it goes through the tunnels, leaving it to exit the tunnel with one less car, and no one is sure why that's a truly chilling concept even without the attack scenes. The image of the train emerging and the missing car is spotted leaves a drastic impression, while later scenes involving the spirit coming to life and taking out the passengers in the cars have some energetic action here. Seeing the spirit graphically start taking out the passengers in graphic detail, as the exploding heads and body-piercing look quite gruesome. These all manage to offer up quite a lot to like here, even though there are some problems in this one that do lower this one somewhat. The main factor against it is a bizarre turn in the final half, where it goes into a strange series of encounters in the woods rather than keeping things on the train. Introducing human villains into the story where they had no purpose beyond the prototypical rich businessman who's trying to save as much money as he can by being cheap and thinking for himself. This features a change into this kind of storyline as it's way too cliché to be of much importance after that fact, and dropping the importance of the demonic spirit makes little sense. On top of that, there are also way too many characters that are given time that end up bogging down the film, who are just there for canon fodder but don't amount to much as they're mostly bland or taking time away from the more important characters featured throughout here. The other issue here is that the presentation is somewhat scattershot in its approach and never that consistent. The main scenes set within the train look great, especially when the demonic spirit arrives, which resembles the make-up found in more conventional possession efforts with the evil eyes, pronounced veins on the neck, and general look of evil that immediately makes a striking impression. Beyond that, there's a big push towards CGI enhancements surrounding the creature or the surrounding areas of the forest once the superhuman powers are brought about. The scenes are obvious and stick out quite a bit, with everything coming across as an obvious series of enhanced stylistic choices to offset the idea of what's going on with the spirits' attacks. It feels so inconsistent with the way it plays out as these scenes look immensely cheesy and silly in contrast with the serious presentation of the sequence, somewhat ruining the intended effect, and are the main issues holding this one down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Language.

I'm not used to reviewing films, especially since I'm aware of the limitations in Indonesian cinema, which often lacks detail. It's rare to find a film that makes sense from start to finish.

However, I feel compelled to comment on this movie because everything about it is really disappointing. It's a shame, as the individual performances of the cast aren't bad, and the message about balancing nature and the economy is strong and relevant. Plus, with Rizal Mantovani involved, you'd expect better visual quality. Unfortunately, the script is terribly flawed-it's hard to find a worse one.

Hence it is out of mind with Netflix recommend this movie as if Netflix does not understand how the brain cells work.

1. The mix of fact and fiction makes the story very difficult to follow. Sangkara is mentioned in connection with Jakarta and Solo, implying it's based on some "fact." If it's fact that it's a six-hour train ride in Java, that means it crosses provincial lines. So, the starting point of the station and the resort are in different cities and most likely provinces. How could one regent be responsible for such a large project? It makes more sense in papua or Kalimantan. So If Sangkara is a city nearby Solo 6 hrs ride might bring you somewhere in Nganjuk (east) or Tasikmalaya (west).

2. Trains are not like airplanes; they can STOP. It feels as if this were an airplane that can't make sudden stops.

3. The abrupt detachment of the train should create a significant sound impact. If the screenwriter understood basic physics, they'd know that the last carriage detaching would result in a strong collision with the carriage in front. We call it "momentum" at your elementary Physics. It is not like you pee and you dont feel anything.

4. The awkwardness of the characters knowing the train was detached repeatedly is hard to watch.

5. So, who is Tekun? A waiter and a train mechanic?

6. The random Dutch dance scene in the VIP carriage is completely out of place.

7. The subplot with a couple of thieves in the VIP carriage feels extremely disconnected.

8. If the train goes to resort, what business are belonged to those in economy? It is like a Noah Ark that bring anyone...

Everything about this film is disappointing.

As an indonesian myself, this was one of the few horror movies i was waiting for mainly because our group was going to deciding what movie to choose, and i saw this one which seemed very interesting... buuut they watched another one called "Munkar (2024)" and it seemed very bland and made by Anggy Umbara... no thanks, so i didn't watched the movie with them lol

Now since it was finally released in Netflix, i decided to check it out and... MANNN this really had a potential to be a fun gory movie :(((

The first problem i saw was the storyline, where we we're introduced to MANY characters that some i thought we're going to be important... but they weren't explored anymore and just used as a kill count later on

The first act i thought was fine enough (though there was a few cheap useless cliche jumpscares that had no build up, just BOOM a burned guy while the character is literally doing anything else but focusing on the ghost. Hoping the audience attention span won't fall asleep)

The best part of the movie was definitely the second act for me, when the carrieges started seperating i was really getting into it, and the two main characters drama was getting quite ok enough where i care for them, and then the action scenes keeps happening, what is happening and ohh so MANY bloody kill counts i must say that are VERY cool to watch...

Aaand the thing that really hurt the movie, was the third act... i can't really spoil it much but the entire act threevwas NOT in a train anymore and MAN it was really dissapointing with how it turned out. I will admit though the CGI for the third act looks very good for an indonesian which is GREAT for indonesia's industry where we can finally improve... but sadly that doesn't save with how dissapointed i was with the ending

I honestly really think that if they rewrote the entire act three to be still on the train, would be atleast make it more satisfying atleast.

I give this a 4.5/10, Now i get why people say Rizal Mantovani has questionable storylines in his movies, but the way he directs the kill counts is REALLY good though... sad it was almost forgotten by the horrible ending.

I've watched Kuyang before this and I think this one is way better. I like the story and thrills. It's a movie that I could watch twice without getting bored. I just hope there could be more resistance from the humans against the demon force not just like a prey and predator type of scene, but overall it was good for me. The start was intense then the filler parts was just fine. The ending was amazing. I hope scary movies from Indonesia would get better from here. I like the effects and how gory it is. Maybe we could do a part 2 where government send some spiritual forces to sort out the demons from the forest, but failed miserably igniting an Apocalypse.

The Train of Death isn't just another supernatural thriller - it's a masterclass in tension, emotion, and folklore-fueled terror. From the very first whistle, this film pulls you aboard a journey that's as emotionally gripping as it is terrifying.

The story follows Purnama, a cancer survivor celebrating his second chance at life by taking his beloved younger brother Kembang on a holiday to a remote natural resort. It should've been a moment of joy - but instead, it becomes a fight for survival. As their tourist train winds through dark mountains and misty valleys, something unnatural begins to unfold: every time the train enters a tunnel, a carriage vanishes without a trace.

What makes this film so powerful isn't just the chilling mystery or the eerie disappearances - it's the emotional weight carried by its characters. Purnama, still fragile from his battle with illness, refuses to lose anyone else, especially his innocent, wide-eyed brother Kembang. Their bond is the heart of the film - tender, protective, and painfully real. You feel every heartbeat of Purnama's fear, not just of death, but of failing the one person he promised to protect.

Alongside him are Tekun, a loyal train stewardess trying to hold order in chaos, and Ramla, a mysterious passenger whose cryptic warnings are dismissed as madness - until it's almost too late. Their struggle to be heard, to make others believe in the unseen, mirrors real-life fears of being ignored when you know something terrible is coming.

The atmosphere is thick with dread - flickering lights, echoing screams in empty carriages, and the haunting silence after a tunnel. The cinematography is stunning, contrasting the beauty of Indonesia's untouched landscapes with the growing horror inside the train. And the final tunnel? It's not just a destination - it's a reckoning.

The Train of Death blends supernatural horror with deep human emotion. It's about survival, brotherhood, and facing the darkness - both outside and within. By the end, you're not just scared - you're moved.

🎬 Don't board this train alone. But whatever you do... don't close your eyes in the tunnel.

A must-watch for fans of KKN di Desa Penari and The Platform. Indonesian cinema has a new horror gem.

• A viewer who still checks the last carriage when the lights go out.