Terror Train (1980)

A masked killer targets six college kids responsible for a prank gone wrong years earlier and whom are currently throwing a large New Year's Eve costume party aboard a moving train.

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writer:

T.Y. Drake

Stars:

Ben Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hart Bochner

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Johnson	...	Carne
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Alana Maxwell
Hart Bochner	...	Doc Manley
David Copperfield	...	Ken the Magician
Derek McKinnon	...	Kenny Hampson (as Derek MacKinnon)
Sandee Currie	...	Mitchy
Timothy Webber	...	Mo
Anthony Sherwood	...	Jackson
Howard Busgang	...	Ed
Steve Michaels	...	Charley the Brakeman
Greg Swanson	...	Class President
Vanity	...	Merry (as D.D. Winters)
Joy Boushel	...	Pet
Victor Knight	...	Walter the Engineer
Donald Lamoreux	...	Shovels the Stoker (as Don Lamoureux)

Storyline

A college fraternaty prank goes bad and student ends up in the mental ward. Four years later, it's graduation time, and the members of the fraternity decide to have a costume party aboard a train trip to celebrate thier graduation. Unknowingly to them, a killer has slipped aboard, wacking them off one by one, disguised in the costumes of the victims.

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Plot Keywords:

costume | train | killer | college | party | 

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Taglines:

A nightmare journey to hell...

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Train of Terror

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Astral Bellevue Pathé, Sandy Howard Productions, Triple T Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Along with Halloween and Prom Night, this film would give actress Jamie Lee Curtis the title of 'Scream Queen' because of her frequent appearances in horror films early in her career.

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Goofs

When the killer murders the Guy in the Lizard Suit (Jackson), the mirror is shattered. When the conductor discovers the body, the mirror is intact - even though there is blood on the sink at this point.

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Quotes

Alana Maxwell: I never knew you liked magic.
Kenny Hampson: I watched you tonight.
[Referring to the magician]
Kenny Hampson: You liked him.
Alana Maxwell: No. Kenny, you're better than he is. I'm sure you're better than he is.
Kenny Hampson: I am. He didn't know how to cut a woman in to pieces.

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Connections

Spoofed in Trading Places (1983)

User Reviews

A decent, fun slasher flick

I really was not expecting much from viewing Terror Train, quite honestly, and I don't think many would. I did not know much about anyway, but I had been really wanting to see it regardless, because it looked cool and it starred Jamie Lee Curtis, who we all know was a big horror star back in the 80s, and I enjoyed all the films she starred in as well. It seemed like it would be a fun watch, and it was.

Well, this was no Halloween or The Fog, but I liked it all the same, even if it is not as classic, professional, and suspenseful. The plot is a college fraternity hosts a New Year's Eve costume party upon a moving train. Simple enough, and sometimes simple plots are the best kinds of plots to go with, though the simplicity of Terror Train makes it seem dull and mediocre at times. I liked the very cool and unexpected twists this movie had though, and even though sometimes the characters were annoying, they were nicely done and they commingled with the type of atmosphere the film had perfectly.

It tries to be more than it is at times, but if you can appreciate B-Movie horrors, or are just a horror fan in all, it is a good time, though nothing to really praise. Overall, Terror Train was very interesting and a nice edition to the slasher genre. There's not much I can really say about it, but it's satisfying in a sense, and I recommend it if you think you'll get any enjoyment out of watching it.