Night Train (2009): An Underrated Train Thriller

A murder scenario was not in the description for the train ride.

Night Train arrived in theaters in 2009. During a snowy December evening, two passengers and a train conductor discover a dead man in the cabin. Upon discovering a mysterious object in a box, they keep this valuable item to themselves, only for more deadly revelations on the train ride.

I want to go back and watch this film for the first time again. Not only is it (yet another) underrated film, but Night Train is an adrenaline-pumping thriller. A lot is going on in this story, from racing around the train to facing hidden desires, and deceit among the characters.

Night Train accommodates a cast you’d never expect to act together. Danny Glover, LeeLee Sobieski, and Steve Zahn are tremendous in all their interactions. They were cast well in their parts, especially Glover as the conductor. These characters are total strangers. Can they trust one another in a situation like this?

This isn’t the first film LeeLee Sobieski and Steve Zahn have acted in together. They were in Joy Ride (2001), another favorite horror film. Sobieski achieves her character’s mysterious nature. You wonder where her knowledge of disposing of bodies arose.

I could write a book about how incredible Steve Zahn is. He is versatile and talented, and his trademark bug eyes never get old. Zahn’s acting talents should not go unnoticed in Night Train because he is amazing in this film!

Trains make good settings for character films. As the characters move from one compartment to the next, they quietly step around other passengers. No part is ever too small. Matthias Schweighofer (Frankie) does a commendable job of being observant of the situation. Credits include Takatsuna Mukai, Togo Igawa, Richard O’Brien, Joe Marr, and Geoff Bell.

Train rides also make exciting locations for mysteries. You can’t travel too far on a train with the condensed space. The most important part of train films is creating the interior. It’s quite a luxurious train and each compartment occupies something different.

Night Train was made on a low budget. The train is clearly CG whenever you see it moving on the tracks. On the other hand, the style makes it appear otherworldly. In case viewers forget that this story is set on a train, editors remind us of several shots of the exterior train racing along the tracks.

Everything happens so fast in this suspenseful thriller. Brian King dictated strong direction to the actors, mood, and mysterious quality. At only 90 minutes, Night Train has a steady build-up, copying a noir style. It reminded me of The Lady Vanishes (1938), an Alfred Hitchcock film that takes place on a train.

The editing is sharp, interplaying quick cuts. Editors also created needed discretion shots when someone is executing a gruesome act. One shot has symbolic lighting effects, creating an intense mood.

The writing is excellent, but the climax is overloaded with twists. The film takes an absurd angle with what the characters do. Certain characters are revealed to have important roles in the situation, but how come they wait until the final minute? The music (which is eerie) is also too much at times, overlapping dialogue.

Amid the suspense, Night Train is about finding your purpose. Characters become obsessed with the visions seen in this decorative box. The train's confined space amplifies the tension, pushing the characters into proximity and forcing them to confront their increasingly desperate situations.

I recommend that you watch Night Train with fresh eyes. It only enhances the viewing experience.