Terror Train (1980)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writer:

T.Y. Drake (writer)

Release Date:

3 October 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The boys and girls of Sigma Phi. Some will live. Some will die.

Plot:

A masked killer targets six college kids responsible for a prank gone wrong years earlier and whom are currently throwing a large New Year's Eve costume party aboard a moving train.

Plot Keywords:

Costume | Train | Party | Prank | Student

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Ben Johnson	...	Carne, Train Conductor
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Alana Maxwell
Hart Bochner	...	Doc Manley
David Copperfield	...	Ken, The Magician
Derek McKinnon	...	Kenny Hampson (as Derek MacKinnon)
Sandee Currie	...	Mitchy
Timothy Webber	...	Mo
Anthony Sherwood	...	Jackson
Howard Busgang	...	Ed
Steve Michaels	...	Charley the Brakeman
Greg Swanson	...	Class President
Vanity	...	Merry (as D.D. Winters)
Joy Boushel	...	Pet
Victor Knight	...	Walter the Engineer
Donald Lamoureux	...	Shovels the Stoker (as Don Lamoureux)

Also Known As:

Le monstre du train (Canada: French title)
Train of Terror

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1990) (cut) | Finland:K-18 (1981) (cut) | West Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:X (original rating) (1980) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2007) | Italy:T (VHS) (alternate rating) | Italy:VM14 (VHS rating) | Italy:VM18 (DVD rating) | Australia:R | France:-16 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (re-rating) (1989) | USA:R | South Korea:18 | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Astral Bellevue Pathé

Trivia:

The film's German title is 'Monster im Nacht-Express', which translates to 'Monster on the Night Express Train'.

Quotes:

Carne, Train Conductor: Have you ever shoveled any coal?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nightmare in Canada: Canadian Horror on Film (2004) (TV)

One of the best slashers in the HALLOWEEN generation

TERROR TRAIN (1980)

starring:

Ben Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hart Bochner, David Copperfield, Sandee Currie, Timothy Webber, Anthony Sherwood, Howard Busgang, Derek McKinnon, D.D. Winters.

plot:

Frat boys Doc (Hart Bochner), Mo (Timothy Webber), Jackson (Anthony Sherwood), Ed (Howard Busgang) and sorority girl Mitchy (Sandee Currie) convince Alana (Jamie Lee Curtis) to participate in a frat prank on nerdy, wimpy Kenny Hampson (Derek McKinnon). The prank turns out to be much worst than Alana expected and poor Kenny ends up in the mental hospital. Three years later, the college students are now seniors and are having a New Year's costume party on a chartered train. The conductor Carne (Ben Johnson) can't seem to shake the feeling that something horrible is going to happen. Once the train hits the rails, the friends begin dying one by one as the killer wears his/her victim's costumes. Who is this mysterious killer?

the good:

This is one of the many great slasher films that were made after the success of HALLOWEEN. Only this one is much more atmospheric and I loved the characters, except Doc, what an asshole.

The killer uses a sword which is a little original in slasher films. The killer is also very creepy, using his victim's costumes as a secret identity. The first and last masks he/she uses were the creepiest.

The final chase scene is also very suspenseful. I was at the edge of my seat, especially in the office scene!

David Copperfield also gave a mysterious, sexy and creepy performance as Ken, the Magician.

the bad:

Eh ... can't think of anything. Except the unoriginality, which is in most slashers.

9/10