Le Monstre du train

Jamie Lee Curtis was once again cementing her status as the Scream Queen, after the successes of "Halloween", "The Fog" and "Prom Night", but this one unfortunately wasn't as successful as the previous ones and remains the least remembered. But that doesn't mean that this movie is bad. A Slasher movie set on a train is something different I suppose, which makes Terror Train a stylish and inventive and really makes the most of it's settings. And I also loved the fact that the killer uses different costumes for each murder, pure genius.

The only draw back on this movie is that most of the murders happen off-screen, but more than makes up for it in the performances like Derek MacKinnion who plays Kenny a very well rounded performance, Ben Johnston does well in his role as the train conducter and even real life magician David Copperfield plays his part well. Hart Bochner plays the coward Doc annoyed me and glad he got his just desserts and once again Jamie Lee Curtis is brilliant as the lead heroine and gives the best chase scene in this movie which is the main highlight of this movie in my books.

All in all "Terror Train" is an underrated gem and a highlight on Jamie Lee Curtis's glowing CV.

"Terror Train" is the final Jamie Lee Curtis horror movie (not including the "Halloween" sequels) and it certainly is a high note to go out on. The film doesn't have the substance and art that "Halloween" or "The Fog", but one might find that "Terror Train" is an above average slasher film that, like its fellow Curtis movies, relies more on story and thrills than blood and guts. This movie truly puts others like "Prom Night", "My Bloody Valentine", "Madman", "Happy Birthday to Me", and "Graduation Day" to shame, and one could easily argue that its better than the extremely popular "Friday the 13th" films.

"Terror Train" is a little more complicated than most slasher fares. It is about a fraternity holding a New Year's Eve costume party on a train but someone has boarded the train with a vendetta against the college kids for an accidental prank that occurred several years beforehand. While on the train, the killer takes on the costumed identity of whoever he kills, so who is the killer and who is just dressed up. Its got a great plot and the movie delivers some as well.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Ben Johnson are the stars of this movie, but other big names are included as well. David Copperfield is one of them; he does his job playing himself basically, but the true acting chops go to Hart Bochner, who plays the stuck up, rude, and mostly mean fraternity brother responsible for the accident years ago. Ben Johnson is of course good, but his role is limited to a train conductor. Jamie Lee Curtis is pretty much playing yet another heroine in a horror movie, and her performance is stellar but nothing special.

"Terror Train" is a great slasher film recommended for slasher fans. It has its plot holes, but overall its makes up for them with a good story, some decent suspense, and a great twist ending that you won't soon forget. It definitely doesn't fall off the tracks.

"Terror Train" is available on DVD only on a simple DVD with just the theatrical trailer included. The impending remake may bring about a special edition.

A very middle of the road slasher film that's saved by the third act as it focuses more on the leads Ben Johnson and Jamie Lee Curtis, who both give good performances. The train location is a nice change of pace from a house or the woods where most slashers generally take place, the costume party does make it more plausible for the killer to be on the loose without people catching on, the cinematography is good, also surprise appearances from Vanity and David Copperfield are a plus. However, with ever good thing there is about the film there's also a bad, the characters are generally unlikable, there's very little to no sex or nudity and the kills are mainly off screen and what is shown is unimaginative, especially considering magic was a big part of the movie. Some of the decisions the characters make, the leaps of logic in the story and the "twist" at the end are eye rolling and cringe inducing. There are better slasher movies, there are better Jamie Lee Curtis slasher movies. You definitely won't regret watching this, but you're not missing much if you skipped it either.

*Good movie with a twist. Keeps you guessing.

A mean spirited prank sends a coed into a mental hospital and he plans his sweet revenge on the classmates who sent him there while on a New Year's Eve train party.

It's a simple set up, but a lot of it is effective. There's a surprising lack of gore, but the killer's multiple disguises are downright eerie. A late in the game twist does genuinely surprise as well. Actors such as Ben Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Hart Bochner elevate the threadbare material throughout and the finale ends up being more intense than it probably should be as the masked madman terrorizes Curtis throughout the train.

Well, I have to say Terror Train was an excellent film. Like Prom Night, the suspense takes alittle while to get going, but it's worth it. The real scary parts are the first mask the killer wears, and the big chase at the end. Even though Prom Night is thought of as a classic, I think it's nothing compared to Terror Train. Of course it's no Halloween, but then again nothing is. And for those who say this was just to cash in on Jamie and HAlloween, your wrong. There is no relavance to Halloween except Jamie and the killer wears a mask. This is an out of print movie, so if you get a chance to rent it or see it on tv, go for it you won't be sorry!!! If for nothing eles, get it for jamie. This is a mystery too, and the killer is never who you think. It's obvious when he is revealed and you'll kill yerself if you get it wrong. I sure did. Jamie once again prove she is, was, and always will be, The Scream Queen!!