Last Passenger  ...and it rides and it rides

As amazing as it seems, Britain has managed to churn out a B-movies that doesn’t include a single zombie, no (middle-class actors playing) cockney gangsters and not a reel of found footage in sight.  Instead, what we have here is a kind of ‘Speed’ film.

Dougray Scott plays a single father, who’s taking his young son on the train just before Christmas.  Unfortunately for him and the handful of passengers left on board (including the single female of appropriate age who just so happens to find single fathers REALLY attractive), the train refuses to stop and they must work out a way of getting off before it smashes into whatever there is at the end of train tracks in Britain (a wall of spikes, perhaps?  I don’t actually know).

So, what you have is a reasonably passable British thriller, which, at some points, manages to hit the right notes.  The train is a familiar setting (at least for us Brits, anyway) and so makes a relatable place (plus I’m guessing it was a pretty cheap set for the film-makers).  However, unlike Keanu Reeves’ classic action movie, where the bus couldn’t slow down and was in perilous danger at every turn, the train just stays on the tracks.  Effectively, the few passengers left on board could just sit around in relative comfort for most of the movie, only really needing to figure out a way of getting off five minutes before the end.  Therefore, you have a fair amount of time where they’re doing just that.

The other downside is the kid.  Yes, I know kids in films get a bad name, but this one really isn’t that good.  Luckily, he’s not in it that much, but when he is you’ll wish he wasn’t.

Overall, not bad for a film on the cheap.  If you’re bored of zombies, gangsters and found footage B-movies you may enjoy this one (just don’t dwell on the slightly dodgy computer special effects when the train catches fire).

6/10 May just keep you awake if Freddy Kruger was haunting your nights