Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Vinnie Jones

A New York photographer hunts down a serial killer. Based on Clive Barker's short story "Midnight Meat Train"

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50% liked it

12,763 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

27 critics

R, 1 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Ryuhei Kitamura

Release Date: August 14, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (2,732)


  • September 29, 2009
    I knew this would be worth seeing after hearing that Kitamura was directing this movie. And my hopes were up because although I loved most Clive Barker stories I think the movies mostly were unsatisfying to say he least. I can't remember having seen a decent Clive Barker Movie si...( read more)nce Hellraiser.... until Midnight Meat Train came along.

    Actually I don't get why so many people put this movie down. The cinematography is awesome and the shots of the subway are as impressive and stylish as the city shots. Sure some of the CGI Gore FX looked a bit cheap and also the train FX were easy to spot... still this is a Horror movie and for that the Effects were far above average. I mean come on... the decapitation scene from point of view was a classic and the hammer bashings were raw. I usually hate CGI Blood but here the fountains were pretty impressive and except the real cheap scene where he sees his face in his own puddle of blood I liked it.

    This movie is as well for gore maniacs as for fans of stylish imagery and he Clive Barker fans also won't be let down. I can't quite remember the story but I think they should have explained the whole background more in-depth because the end leaves many questions unanswered.

    Perhaps they should not have spent so much time introducing the photographer, his work and his girlfriend although I think also this part of the movie was done with suspense. After all the movie is about a photographer taking shots of New York at night which draws him to the subway where he gets fascinated by a tall guy he thinks is a murderer. He follows him and tries to uncover where he works and goes at night just to be drawn in too deep in a story that involves trains, butchers and human cattle for evil overlords.

    I think the typical cynicism of Clive Barker came across very well with the butcher dressing up for work, following his time schedule by the minute and pretty much just doing his job.

    So even with the flaws of a script focusing too much on suspense and gore and forgetting to unfold the whole back story to the viewer I think this one is definitely watchable. So don't focus on some worn off one-liners and too tight budget in the FX. After all I think the decapitation scene is destined to be a classic and I haven't seen such a raw and gory, yet kind of funny scene since the opening of the by far inferior "Wrong turn 2". Well done Mr. Kitamura, thumbs down Lionsgate. People should throw tons of money at this guy to make more movies like this and Versus.
  • July 13, 2009
    A pretty decent horror film based on the short story by Clive Barker, which is a bit Stephen King like. It's very bloody and gruesome but the cgi effects make it less shocking. Overall a very simple idea for a film well executed but the cgi effects are over done and the story is ...( read more)a bit too straight forward most of the time.
  • April 30, 2009
    I've never seen a Clive Barker movie until The Midnight Meat Train, and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. This story is a completely, almost literally downward descent into hell.
    The main character, a New York photographer obsessed with capturing the worst, most deplorabl...( read more)e aspects of city living becomes entangled in a seemingly vast conspiracy involving a train, a man, and a meat cleaver.
    The CGI gore helps ease how truly gross this movie gets at times. The violence is relentless, brutal, and Vinnie Jones, who plays the killer, creates an iconic villain.
    Director Ryuhei Kitamura, who helmed the brilliant Azumi and the pleasantly fun Versus controls scenes very well. He's a bit predictable at times, but the film is no less tense. It works primarily because of Barker's source material. You identify with the characters. They are ordinary people who possess a lot of intelligence, but just enough flaws that lead them into the rabbit hole.
  • April 15, 2009
    Initially I didn't expect much from MMT other than a standard slasher flick set on a subway train, but this comprises only a small portion of the film I saw. It is indeed as stylish and brutal as I had hoped, but it's also a thoughtful and intriguing mystery blended with hints o...( read more)f the supernatural typical of Clive Barker. Sadly, the film doesn't really feel finished, clearly hinting that sequels were likely intended (but sadly may never be after all). Overall, however, MMT is an excitingly original new addition to the horror genre that I would certainly recommend to fans of the macabre.
  • April 11, 2009
    Who's next to board my hot, steaming meat train?
    Get on while its hot.

    Driver: Step away from the meat.

    A pretty strange horror film that ends in a very different place from where it begins. It is plenty gory, but by no means scary. Its only redeeming qualities lay in how well...( read more) made the film is, giving the audience frequently well handled scenes involving creative deaths.

    The film stars Bradley "The Sac" Cooper as Leon, a struggling New York photographer who still manages to hold down a nice apartment, camera, and clothes with his live-in girlfriend, played by Leslie Bibb.

    Leon is soon told by some artsy bitch, played by Brooke Shields, that he must delve deeper into the underworld to capture great pictures. Fortunately for Leon, he stumbles upon a suspicious man who boards the late subway train and seems to be involved with the mysterious disappearance of many, many people.

    This man is played by Brit tough guy Vinnie Jones who uses a big meat hammer, among other tools, to kill people aboard this late train once it approaches its last stop.

    Eventually Leon develops an obsession with finding out more about this man, eventually discovering where these bodies really go.

    This seems like a fairly straight forward flick, and for the first hour it pretty much is. Then the last act/forty minutes kick in and you have a lot of "what the fuck" moments scattered within.

    It is quite well made however, so I didn't regret my watching it. The title alone got me into the "want to see" mode, and Vinnie Jones is only a plus. Its just too bad the strangeness really takes over the film in a bad way.

    Leon Kauffman: I've got a train to catch.
  • November 3, 2009
    Not a good storyline.
  • October 31, 2009
    I'm never catching a train again!
  • October 31, 2009
    so horrible but i discover one of the sexiest actors because of this movie
  • October 30, 2009
    Anybody that's read a Clive Barker novel would know what to expect from a film adapted from one of his stories, even if a short one. I much preferred the short story but this film adaptation is better than any one of his done before. Very gruesome/gory. Unexpected cameo by Ted...( read more) Raimi was fun
  • October 27, 2009
    This movie in a whole is KICK ASS!! It rocks. I want to buy it for my collection!! Wasn't thrilled about the ending though. It seemed a little far-fetched. Other then that, it captivated my attention through the whole thing.

    My Fav Parts are:
    -When the killer hangs the guy up...( read more)side down and he looks at his reflection.
    -The chick on the bus slips on his eyeballs!!!
    -The train driver knocks his eyes out.
    -Love all the reflection scenes, it's so imaginative. Exp, the part while Bradly Coopers in the resteraunt and the killers looking in. CREEPY
    -Figured out how they were getting away with the killing was how they left the red light on while on the train.

    Cons:
    -The ending was a little far-fetched and could've been more realistic.

Critic Reviews


September 26, 2008
Kurt Loder, MTV

Japanese cult director Ryuhei Kitamura maintains impressive control of the story, ratcheting up tension toward well-prepared and startling bursts of terror. full review

View more The Midnight Meat Train reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • jderzko20
    June 9, 2008
    cannot wait to see this movie... looks nice!!!!
  • xhlittle1965
    May 17, 2008
    midnight meat train is probably not for taking it for nothing .Vinny Jones is starting to suit to this genre and could be very excited movie worth to watch it
  • mojo1888
    May 12, 2008
    looks good and different !!!
  • colorfunart13
    January 2, 2008
    I loved the short story of this by Clive Barker.
    I soooo wanna see if the movie is just as good.
  • LukeFeddema
    November 20, 2007
    woo! first! this movie looks good!!

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