The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

Director:

Ryûhei Kitamura

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Buhler (screenplay)
Clive Barker (short story "The Midnight Meat Train")

Release Date:

7 August 2008 (Russia)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The most terrifying ride you'll ever take

Plot:

A New York photographer hunts down a serial killer.

Plot Keywords:

Subway Station | Photographer | Subway | Art Gallery | Waitress

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Bradley Cooper	...	Leon
Leslie Bibb	...	Maya
Brooke Shields	...	Susan Hoff
Vinnie Jones	...	Mahogany
Roger Bart	...	Jurgis
Tony Curran	...	Driver
Barbara Eve Harris	...	Detective Lynn Hadley
Peter Jacobson	...	Otto
Stephanie Mace	...	Leigh Cooper
Ted Raimi	...	Randle Cooper
Nora	...	Erika Sakaki (as NorA)
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson	...	Guardian Angel
Dan Callahan	...	Troy Taleveski
Don Smith	...	Station Cop (as Donnie Smith)
Earl Carroll	...	Jack Franks

Also Known As:

Clive Barker's Midnight Meat Train (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences of strong bloody gruesome violence, grisly images involving nudity, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

98 min | USA:100 min | France:85 min | USA:103 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (NO. 44086) | South Korea:18 | Singapore:R21 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:M18 (edited for re-rating) | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Argentina:16 | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) (director's cut) | New Zealand:R18

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Lakeshore Entertainment

Trivia:

Vinnie Jones and Bradley Cooper were born exactly ten years apart on January 5th. Vinnie in 1965, and Bradley in 1975.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Maya is searching through Mahogany's bathroom, at one point the white t-shirt of a crew member is visible in the mirror.

Quotes:

[passing by Mahogany, who is sitting in the train with his bag on his knees]
Guardian Angel: Life is like a box of chocolates!

Movie Connections:

References Forrest Gump (1994)

Soundtrack:

Catching Up To You

Intriguing, unusual, strong horror film.

An ambitious art photographer (Bradley Cooper) is trying to capture the darkness, sleaziness or the disturbing sights of New York City by taking photos of strangers. But he has an eye on a mysterious butcher (Vinnie Jones), who takes the subway after midnight. But the photographer realized that one of the strangers, he took a picture of... is missing. Also the butcher was on the subway, when the person was last seen. But there's more than meets the eye of this butcher and the photographer tries to uncover the truth before it is too late.

Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura made an stylish brutal horror film with some effective moments. Cooper and especially Jones are good in their roles. It is sad that "Lionsgate" didn't bother to market this movie well. I think this movie could have had something at the box office but for sure... it would do well, once it is released on Blu-ray/DVD.

The DVD is the Unrated Director's Cut. The DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an strong Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has an interesting commentary track by the director Kitamura and novelist Clive Barker and three featurettes. This film is based on a short story by Barker (Hellraiser, Lord of Illusions, Nightbreed), which Barker is one of the film's producers. "The Midnight Meat Train" is a surprisingly good movie... even during the bizarre (unexpected) third act. Which it might turn-off some viewers. This is certainly one of the most underrated horror movies of 2008. Actor:Fisher Stevens is one of the executive producers. Ted Raimi appears in a cameo. Super 35. (****/*****).