The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

A photographer's obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of a serial killer who stalks late night commuters, ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways imaginable.

Director:

Ryûhei Kitamura

Writers:

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

Stars:

Vinnie Jones, Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Nori Satô	...	Erika Sakaki (as NorA)
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson	...	Guardian Angel
Dan Callahan	...	Troy Taleveski
Donnie Smith	...	Station Cop
Earl Carroll	...	Jack Franks

Storyline

The photographer Leon lives with his girlfriend and waitress Maya waiting for a chance to get in the photo business. When Maya contacts their friend Jurgis, he schedules a meeting for Leon with the successful owner of arts gallery Susan Hoff; she analyzes Leon's work and asks him to improve the quality of his photos. During the night, the upset Leon decides to wander on the streets taking pictures with his camera, and he follows three punks down to the subway station; when the gang attacks a young woman, Leon defends her and the guys move on. On the next morning, Leon discovers that the woman is missing. He goes to the police station, but Detective Lynn Hadley does not give much attention to him and discredits his statement. Leon becomes obsessed to find what happened with the stranger and he watches the subway station. When he sees the elegant butcher Mahogany in the train, Leon believes he might be a murderer and stalks him everywhere, in the beginning of his journey to the darkness.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | subway | butcher | girlfriend | art gallery | 

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Taglines:

The most terrifying ride you'll ever take

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Lionsgate [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 2008 (Russia)

Also Known As:

Clive Barker's Midnight Meat Train

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,394, 3 August 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$83,361

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,533,227

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lakeshore Entertainment, Midnight Picture Show, GreeneStreet Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 103 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The train in the film is a modified 2200 Chicago elevated car.

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Goofs

In the subway car at the opening of the film (approx 00:02:20), a ladder is visible through the left window, highlighting the use of a set and studio.

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Quotes

Leon Kauffman: She didn't like my work.
Jurgis: She gave you three minutes. People whose work she doesn't like, she usually gives one.

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Alternate Versions

German version is cut by approx. 7 minutes to secure a "Not under 18" rating.

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Connections

Referenced in Film 2017: Episode dated 30 January 2014 (2014)

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Soundtracks

Luna (Instrumental)
Written by Lori DeManche, Dedric Moore, Delaney Moore, John Bergin
Performed by Lolo
Courtesy of Lakeshore Records

User Reviews

for the splatter loving crowd

A vicious killer (Vinnie Jones) hunts the late-night subway with a meat hammer. Leon Kaufman (Bradley Cooper) is a street photographer who lives with waitress Maya (Leslie Bibb). Leon goes into the subway and breaks up a mugging. The woman goes on the train and is murdered by the killer. Leon goes to the police the next day but Detective Lynn Hadley suspects him. Gallery owner Susan Hoff (Brooke Shields) gets interested in the pictures of the muggers and suggests getting more pictures of the same intensity. Leon goes back to the subway and suspects he has found the actual killer. He starts stalking him.

There is plenty of blood and CGI gore but not much tension for the first half. Vinnie Jones is good at menacing. I don't really buy what Maya does. However it all climaxes with a fun bloody fight on the subway. The great aspect of Clive Barker's stories is the dark demonic hidden other world. This movie needs to start with that idea instead of keeping it all for the reveal. This is a good Midnight Madness movie for the splatter loving crowd.