Terror Train Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Terror Train Blu-ray Movie Review

Created in the wake of the massive success of 1978’s “Halloween,” “Terror Train” (released in 1980) tries to replicate slasher-style encounters inside the cramped areas of a moving locomotive. While trains have been used many times for cinematic suspense purposes, “Terror Train” tries to play by then-current trends, pitting young college students against a masked killer who enjoys slicing and dicing its victims, picking them off one at a time. “Terror Train” doesn’t win awards for originality, and there’s not a lot of tension in the picture as well, with director Roger Spottiswoode (“Turner & Hooch”) sweating to make tight spaces seem electric. In fact, the killings are perhaps the least interesting element in the effort, finding performances generally more compelling than the overall fear factor.

Terror Train Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Terror Train" is billed as a "Brand new 2K scan of the original internegative with additional restoration work done," and returns to Blu-ray after the 2012 Shout Factory release. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't always pretty, dealing with a low-budget picture and source wear and tear, resulting in speckle storms, occasional scratches, and some chemical blemishes. The feature isn't built for exquisite detail, but clarity is adequate, surveying tight train interiors, costume party duds, and facial surfaces, which handle with reasonable texture. Colors are more exciting, enjoying stylish lighting which creates intended suspense and festive moods. Primaries are secure throughout, and skintones are natural. Bloodletting remains a deep red. Delineation isn't troublesome, preserving interactions in limited lighting. Grain is heavy but remains film-like.

Terror Train Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix remains a largely frontal listening experience, with satisfactory dialogue exchanges already working through some iffy recording quality. Voices aren't sharp but emotionality is easily tracked, and screams register with intended power. Scoring isn't as pronounced, but thriller moods are understood, though instrumentation is dulled at times. Surrounds handle atmospherics, visiting train stations and locomotive movement, getting a feel for student bustle. Low-end is light.

Terror Train Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (16:46, HD) with Roger Spottiswoode tracks the editor's eagerness to become a director after working with Sam Peckinpah, making his debut with "Terror Train." Dealing with a script in need of a rewrite, the helmer formed a tight collaboration with Judith Rascoe, who was refused credit on the picture. Praise for cinematographer John Alcott is shared, tasked to make the feature on a real train, encountering tight spaces and limited lighting. Recollections of Ben Johnson and Jamie Lee Curtis are offered, along with David Copperfield, with Spottiswoode trying to preserve the magician's many tricks. Talk of working with dangerous props is included, while Spottiswoode admits disappointment that "Terror Train" wasn't the hit it was meant to be.

• Interview (5:35, HD) with Judith Rascoe is a short overview of her participation on "Terror Train," recalling the gold rush of film production in Canada at the time, making it easy to find work, resulting in a shortage of true professionals. Rascoe discusses rewrite challenges and creative timing with the release of "Halloween," influencing the picture. Rascoe also shares an anecdote about Copperfield and his heightened professional urgency after learning she was dating a respected magician.

• Interview (12:08, HD) traces in the early years of producer Daniel Grodnik, with his USC education leading him to guide "Starhops" and "Without Warning" through production. A fan of "Silver Streak" and "Halloween," Grodnik elected to marry the tonal extremes for "Terror Train," with the project coming to him in a dream, quickly sold off to producer Sandy Howard, who needed little to get the effort in front of cameras a mere four months later. The interviewee shares the original story of "Terror Train" and his push to hire Spottiswoode, Curtis, and Copperfield. Grodnik explores the feature's sale to 20th Century Fox, who overspent on marketing, believing they had the next big thing in horror.

• Interview (13:26, HD) with producer Don Carmoody spotlights his work in Canada, bringing a pair of early David Cronenberg features to screens before teaming up with Sandy Howard to guide his B-movies. After hiring Spotiswoode, Carmoody found the real train used for the endeavor, putting his faith in cinematographer John Alcott, who used Polaroid pictures to help secure his lighting designs for the film. Time with Johnson and Curtis is recalled, along with praise for Copperfield. Carmoody is also a little deflated when it comes time to discuss the botched release of "Terror Train," but notes the endeavor's lasting appeal.

• Interview (11:00, HD) with production designer Glenn Bydwell recounts his early career interest in design, eventually making his way to film production. Dealing with frigid temperatures and a very old train, Bydwell worked to create a stylish look for the movie, also trying to protect many of Copperfield's illusions.

• Interview (8:10, HD) meets up with composer John Mills in an open field, exploring how he met the needs of "Terror Train," creating the various moods for the film. His youthful interest in spare scoring irritated studio vet Lionel Newman, who demanded more substance to the work. Mills admits his comfort with horror pictures, and celebrates his move into theater, taking on a whole new set of challenges.

• Still Gallery (4:50) collects international poster art, film stills, publicity snaps, and BTS photos.

• T.V. Spot (:30, SD) offers a single commercial for "Terror Train."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:28, HD) is included.

Terror Train Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are positives in "Terror Train," including an exciting finale (paying off a laborious set-up), atmospheric cinematography from John Alcott, and strong lead performances from Jamie Lee Curtis, Hart Bochner, and Ben Johnson, who offers the film some needed veteran actor weight. There's also the sight of a very young David Copperfield working magic for the camera, adding some oddity into a routine picture. While "Terror Train" has potential to make a proper mess inside a rolling setting, Spottiswoode often throttles intensity, believing the central mystery has weight (that's open for debate), putting more effort into limp scenes of investigation instead of encouraging genre mayhem.