Terror Train (1980)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lee ?

  
  Mediocre slasher from the 80's. Interesting setting for a slasher film having it unfold onboard a train, but that's about the only bit of originality about it. The kills themselves are mostly gore-free and tame, and the killers' big reveal is predictable. The best… More
  Mediocre slasher from the 80's. Interesting setting for a slasher film having it unfold onboard a train, but that's about the only bit of originality about it. The kills themselves are mostly gore-free and tame, and the killers' big reveal is predictable. The best moments are of David Copperfield's tricks during his cameo appearence.

• AJ V

  
  This is just an average slasher movie, it seems to try to be a train mystery movie at the same time, but it really isn't. This movie is really boring most of the time. I didn't like this one at all, and I don't recommend seeing it.

• Jeff "

  
  Terror Train is essentialy another Halloween clone. The only difference is that the murders are happening on a train. The film stars scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, and she seems kinda out of her element in this film, I mean it looks as she's bored with the story. Whatever it is,… More
  Terror Train is essentialy another Halloween clone. The only difference is that the murders are happening on a train. The film stars scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, and she seems kinda out of her element in this film, I mean it looks as she's bored with the story. Whatever it is, she lacks the strentgh of her earlier Horror films. But somehow, she manages to still give a decent enough performance. Even though that this isn't her best role, the film is actually pretty good for what it is. Terror Train is still a enjoyable horror film with many creepy, suspenseful moments. I thought that it was a good slasher film with plenty of creative kills. Though not as memorable as Halloween or Friday The 13th, Terror Train is still a good enough entry in the slasher. Terror Train is still a fun ride through terror and madness. Not one of the most memorable or inventive Slasher flicks from the early 80's, Terror Train is still far from the worst. A thing that I thoroughly enjoyed about the film is that the killer changes his disguise constantly, and you're always left guessing who it is. Terror Train Provides a tense, thrilling mood with a decent cast, Terror Train is a neat slice of terror from the early 1980's. Worth a viewing, but don't expect it to be as good as Halloween or Friday The 13th. Roger Spottiswoode first directorial offering is a fun film to watch with friends, despite it's flaws. Then again is there such a thing as a flawless 80's slasher? Sottiswoode's direction is eerie and claustrophobic, he definitely knows how to get the right angles to make a scene look creepy and horrifying. Terror Train is worth a watch and is a must see for fans of cheesy slasher films.

• Steve K

  
  About average slasher-on-a-train film with good cinematography and a neat hook.

• Drew S

  
  Oh, Jamie Lee Curtis, the shit I put up with for you. This is an entirely serviceable early 80s slasher, perhaps most notable for its status as a David Copperfield vehicle (?!). Stage magic is to this movie as dancing was to Prom Night, a completely irrelevant interlude designed to… More
  Oh, Jamie Lee Curtis, the shit I put up with for you. This is an entirely serviceable early 80s slasher, perhaps most notable for its status as a David Copperfield vehicle (?!). Stage magic is to this movie as dancing was to Prom Night, a completely irrelevant interlude designed to entertain without actually doing much more than distracting the viewer from the main plot. I mean, I love the dancing in Prom Night, not so much because it's good and more because I'm obsessive, but I digress. The point is someone bankrolled the shit out of this movie in exchange for Copperfield's insufferable, interminable presence, and we get to watch him do tired magic tricks and woo Curtis all move long. The slashery itself is pretty anemic, save for its decent ending, and is really only elevated by Curtis's presence. Charming, likable and easy to relate to, she can communicate pathos in even the most ridiculous of circumstances. She is the sole reason why movies like this and Prom Night and arguably Halloween worked. Despite her contributions, this movie can easily be passed over, as there's nothing really here to get excited about except for the hilarious introduction. It's something to watch for 80s horror completists or Curtis fans, but likely won't find an audience anywhere else.

• Tim S

  
  Definitely not the most memorable of slashers from the slasher era, but definitely worth a rent at least.

• Cassandra M

  
  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… More
  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.

• jd c

  
  A fun ass horror movie from the 80's. An underrated gem. Nothing original here, same old slasher hack-em up concept, but still a whole lot of damn fun. A good movie to watch when you're alone at night. And although it probably will not scare you, I'm sure in the end… More
  A fun ass horror movie from the 80's. An underrated gem. Nothing original here, same old slasher hack-em up concept, but still a whole lot of damn fun. A good movie to watch when you're alone at night. And although it probably will not scare you, I'm sure in the end you'll be quite pleased that you spend 90 minutes of your night eating from a bowl of popcorn and watching 5 teenagers get slaughtered by a guy wearing a Groucho Marx mask costume. lol No gore here either, this movie wasn't about that. The acting was great and there's very good direction, with some spooky cinematography. Cheesy in some parts, but it's the kind of fun 80's horror cheese, and it's not overdone either. Don't take this movie too seriously. There's nothing here that's going to wow you. Just sit back, relax, be open minded and have fun with it. The 80's was a glorious decade for horror films, and believe me, this is one of the good one's from that wonderful time span of blood, guts, and maniacal madmen running amok and hacking up teenagers. This is the perfect film to even watch around the Halloween season. It has that feel to it. You know that feel? That good old creepy October, things that go bump in the night feel! : ) And although you'll probably guess right at who the killer is, Terror Train will still have you guessing till the very end. It's not so much as to who the killer is, it's more of where the hell is he?...And have you already seen the killer? Because believe me, he'll most likely pass by your very eyes without you even knowing it!...you'll know more what I'm talking about when you see this. Little interesting twist at the very end! Yes indeed, it's good times with bloodshed, the Groucho Marx killer, and our favorite legendary "scream queen" Jamie Lee Curtis. I highly recommend this movie. But just have fun with it, that's all it's about. Other Reviews: "While Terror Train is not much more than a wheelbound Friday the 13th, it is one of the better films to emerge in the short-lived but prolific 1980-3 slasher cycle." - The SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review "Terror Train proves that when done right, a classic slasher flick could deliver just as many thrills and twists and turns as a more conventional horror flick." - Horror Yearbook "Terror Train stands on its own as a thoroughly enjoyable and tasteful slasher film." - 411mania "Terror Train steamrolls through the rest and emerges strong as an icon of Canadian horror. All aboard!" - Oh, the Horror! "For all its flaws Terror Train is still a fun, entertaining ride." - DVD Verdict "Sends you a chill down the spine that won't subside until those final few minutes...see it before the upcoming remake." - Film Threat "Terror Train is a hell of a lot of fun, and a unique film besides thanks to its claustrophobic setting, bizzarre killer reveal, and confused romantic relationships: for a decidedly queer ride, this Trannie Train is well-worth the trip." - CampBlood.org "TERROR TRAIN is quite simply one of the top five slasher movies ever made, in my opinion. Suspenseful, scary, humorous, and fun, it truly stands head and shoulders above the countless other HALLOWEEN clones made during the early 80's." - DVD Drive-In <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/?action=view¤t=terr10.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/terr10.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Lafe F

  
  I used to think this movie was dark and uneventful. But then I watched it again and it great on be big time. It's got a great killer who keeps changing appearance during the movie, taking the costumes from the victims during the on-board masquerade. There's a well-done… More
  I used to think this movie was dark and uneventful. But then I watched it again and it great on be big time. It's got a great killer who keeps changing appearance during the movie, taking the costumes from the victims during the on-board masquerade. There's a well-done mystery about the identity of the killer. Good showing from Jamie Lee Curtis and David Copperfield. The deaths are tame in the gore department, but effective. I enjoyed this and now consider it a classic slasher of the 80's made in Canada.

• Matt P

  
  The story is predictable from the get-go and isn't fresh, but the movie is well-crafted for its genre and manages to build suspense.

• Lord N

  
  The boys and girls of Sigma Phi, Some will live. Some will die. This is now my 6th Jamie Lee Scream Queen film (lets see, Halloween 1,2,4 Prom Night, and now this. never mind, it's my 5th Jamie Lee Scream queen film) I agree withe very critic who gave this a positive… More
  The boys and girls of Sigma Phi, Some will live. Some will die. This is now my 6th Jamie Lee Scream Queen film (lets see, Halloween 1,2,4 Prom Night, and now this. never mind, it's my 5th Jamie Lee Scream queen film) I agree withe very critic who gave this a positive review: you could do worse. Acting/Characters: It could have been worse. it could have been a lot better too. Jamie Lee plays the same character that she played in Halloween and Prom Night just with a different name. The rest of the characters are just what every other knife fodder slasher teen is in the other films. But I feel that,surprisingly, these kids did just a tiny bit better than the kids in the other slashers. Nothing award winning (maybe Teen Choice Award winning but everyone with even half a brain knows that they aren't real awards anyway). Jamie Lee obviously had the most character. Boy, she can scream. You know, one thing that I have noticed is that no matter how old Jamie Lee is when doing a film, she sounds exactly the same. Her voice that is. I bet the second she started talking as a young child she sounded like she does now. I'm rambling on a random tangent but yeah, it could have been worse. 4/10 Plot: If Alien taught us one thing about Horror Films is that a claustrophobic setting is always a plus. There are few more claustrophobic settings than a train. I liked that a lot. Other than that, it was the same thing as every other slasher: masked killer stalking and killing teens until only Jamie Lee is left. If I hadn't seen so many films like that I might have enjoyed the plot a bit more. But I also noticed that this film had a Dr. Loomis sort of character. Not someone who was desperately looking for the deranged killer but rather an adult who is really the only person who really knows what is going on and has more brains than all of the teens combined. I also liked the ending a bit more than I did with the other slasher films. The identity of the killer isn't something that this film tries to hide, but it still manages to get in a few twists that you didn't see coming. So, at least this film tried. 6/10 Screenplay: well, this is like the rest of the movie, it could have been a lot worse. It could have been like every other slasher film out there. In many ways it was, but the screenplay found a few ways to be a bit better than the rest of the slashers. It was still decently generic. 4/10 Likableness: you know, I wasn't rolling my eyes as much as I normally do during a slasher film which is always nice. But that isn't to say I didn't roll my eyes. there were certainly moments where I did. But overall, I must agree with he critics: you could do worse. A lot worse. It was decently entertaining and I must give it credit for that. 5/10 Final Score: 19/40 47% (M) TRIVIA TIME: 1. The idea for Terror Train came from a dream that Daniel Grodnikhad. One weekend night after seeing the films Halloween and Silver Streak, Dan woke up and said to his wife, "What do you think about putting Halloween on a train? His wife answered, "That's terrible. He jotted down "Terrible Train" on a piece of paper on his nightstand. In the morning he changed the title to TERROR TRAIN, wrote up 22 pages, and made a deal on it with Sandy Howard's company at 3 in the afternoon. 2. Jamie Lee Curtis shot this film back to back with the similarly themed slasher film Prom Night in late 1979. Both films were shot in Canada; Prom Night in Toronto and Terror Train in Montreal. 3. The film's German title is 'Monster im Nacht-Express', which translates to 'Monster on the Night Express Train'. 4. 'Derek MacKinnon' who played Kenny also played ten other characters, making it eleven in total. 5. Filmed aboard actual train cars that were converted to allow space for large camera equipment for the production.

• John M

  
  Ok horror slasher that could have been better, the plot is good but it was ruined by horrible direction and bad actors. Also the killing scenes were bad however the ending was good.

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