MovieChat Forums > Night Train (2009) Discussion > What a waste of potential.

What a waste of potential.

posted 11 years ago by Hallucinogen-X
5 replies | jump to latest

I was really looking forward to Night Train,i love these kinds of movies,cheap B-grade cinema with an interesting plot with twists as opposed to unfunny jokes and boobs.Good low budget movies are however rare and this movie is not one of them.What's worst is that the movie had potential,it had a nice setting and a surprisingly good cast.Nevertheless it was an interesting movie which was fun to watch and good time pass.

The biggest flaw in the movie is "The Box".The Box is a very interesting idea which is a lot like the briefcase in Pulp Fiction and it was a surprising twist to find out that the box is supernatural.However this interesting plot device robs the movie of it's core element which is human nature.The tagline of the movie is "Greed has it's price" and the movie is not about greed at all even though it initially appears so because later in the movie it is revealed that whoever looks inside the box he/she well goes insane.It's like the box hypnotizes them into killing each other over it.Considering this you can hardly blame any of the characters for their selfish actions because they were under the spell of the box.Miles obviously resisted the box's effect but he was strong willed compared to the other young characters.The movie would have benefited from being having a simple story about some people finding a box with diamonds in it and gradually going to great lengths to keep this discovery a secret,crossing and double crossing each other,slowly unraveling the monster inside them and ending with the least expected person to walk away with the money.

Another flaw in the movie is the movie's stupidity.Many parts of the movie are highly stupid and even though this is not high quality cinema,it's not much to ask the director to have some common sense.For example,the scene where Chloe cuts off the limbs and head of a dead body with nothing but a meat cleaver with minute splatter of blood on her face and a rather small puddle on the ground which is easily cleaned with a mop.Last time i checked human bodies had bones which are almost as strong as cement,i don't think you can cut cement with a meat cleaver.Oh and not to mention the fact that all this happens in less than 15 minutes.Also in many situations the characters behaved quite stupidly.

So overall a rather disappointing movie with great potential but a fun ride nonetheless.I'd give it 5/10.

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

[–] areo64-1 11 years ago

I don't know about your interpretation. Danny Glover's character overcame the greed that the box instilled in people.

[–] Hallucinogen-X 11 years ago

Yes but he was really strong willed with a huge sense of morality.Even he was initially under the box's spell.He did get greedy,he did agree to throw the man's body off the train and even sat by as the chick cut off it's limbs.The other characters were already morally corrupt a bit so it was easier for the box to take over them.

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

[–] areo64-1 11 years ago

I think the box is an allegory to some extent. It brings out the greed that's in you but you could fight it if you chose not to be greedy.

[–] gold_nava17 9 years ago

I agree. I think they should of just kept the contents of what was in the box as just diamonds. That alone could of brought out the greed in everyone.

[–] Wuchak (8100) a year ago

The movie would have benefited from being having a simple story about some people finding a box with diamonds in it and gradually going to great lengths to keep this discovery a secret,crossing and double crossing each other,slowly unraveling the monster inside them and ending with the least expected person to walk away with the money.

I thought this was where the movie was heading, which is reminiscent of "A Simple Plan" (1998). The supernatural angle is disappointing because the movie didn't need it. But, like you said, it's still a fun ride. I give it an easy 6/10.

Chloe cuts off the limbs and head of a dead body with nothing but a meat cleaver with minute splatter of blood on her face and a rather small puddle on the ground which is easily cleaned with a mop.Last time i checked human bodies had bones which are almost as strong as cement,i don't think you can cut cement with a meat cleaver.Oh and not to mention the fact that all this happens in less than 15 minutes.

Due to her studies, she had detailed knowledge of the human body and experience working with cadavers. Couple this with her newfound greedy obsession and the fact that she was using a freakin' meat cleaver and she was able to cut the body up effectively and efficiently.

As for the amount of blood, it splattered all over her face and they clearly had to mop up what was on the floor, so I don't see what the problem is. Would it have been messier in real life? Would it have taken a little longer? Probably, but not necessarily since they were in the throes of avaricious obsession. Besides, it's a movie and movies always condense time by omitting irrelevant or mundane details for the sake of the viewer.