Atomic Train (1999) (TV)

Directors:

David Jackson
Dick Lowry

Writers (WGA):

D. Brent Mote (teleplay) (first half) and
Phil Penningroth (teleplay) (first half) ...

Release Date:

16 May 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Final Stop Is Deadly.

Plot:

A train filled with atomic devices threatens to destroy the city of Denver. John Serger (a train buff) has to prevent this from happening

Plot Keywords:

Train Wreck | Car On Train Tracks | Runaway Train | Train | Made For TV Movie

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Rob Lowe	...	John Seger
Kristin Davis	...	Megan Seger
Esai Morales	...	Noris MacKenzie
John Finn	...	Wally Phister
Mena Suvari	...	Grace Seger
Erik King	...	Beau Randall
Blu Mankuma	...	Reuben Castillo
Don S. Davis	...	General Harlan Ford
Sean Smith	...	Chance MacKenzie
Eric Johnson	...	Danny
Jane Perry	...	Kelly Marx
Chris Ellis	...	Ed Brown
Zack Ward	...	Stan Atkins
Yanna McIntosh	...	Christina Roselli
Edward Herrmann	...	The President

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for disaster-related violence and thematic elements.

Runtime:

122 min | Germany:164 min (2 parts)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

British Columbia Railway, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Dennis Hammer Productions

Trivia:

The film was not shown on the Colorado NBC affiliate, KUSA-9, because of the Columbine shootings.

Goofs:

Plot holes: When the train becomes a runaway it is still 300 miles from Denver, described as downhill all the way so that it cannot stop without brakes. Since mountainous terrain does not allow a continuous steady downgrade, the train would have to descend at least two or three miles to keep it coasting over that distance, making the starting point higher than any point in Utah. In fact, since it would be traveling toward the Continental Divide, it should be going generally uphill for most of the first 250 miles.

Movie Connections:

Features Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)

Basic TV miniseries

Though it may not be technically well done or sufficiently researched, Atomic Train is immensely entertaining, with excellent locations and good pacing. The special effects were actually very good, as was the editing/ sound editing.

Nothing much can be said about the mediocre acting (Rob Lowe wasn't bad, it was just the awful support), and the whole thing plays out like an extended 'Black Dog' with a different plot line as far as writing and production values go.

Still, if you feel like mindless entertainment for a Sunday afternoon, Atomic Train might do the trick.