Terror Train

R

Released Oct 3, 1980

1 hr. 37 min.

Horror

List

44%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

37%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

During a hazing, a fraternity of pre-med students has a particularly sinister prank in store for one their more timid pledges (Derek MacKinnon). With the help of a coed, Alana Maxwell (Jamie Lee Curtis), they pull off the prank so well that the pledge needs to be institutionalized as a result. After several years pass and people forget the incident, those involved with the prank are ready to celebrate their graduation by having a costume party on a train, but they haven't escaped their past yet.

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Hero O

Terror Train. A 1980 American-Canadian slasher film which became a favourite of mine shortly after I finished watching the film. Spottiswoode's direction really appealed to me, as this film was his directorial debut. The score impressed me as well, and the performances of Ben Johnson, Derek MacKinnon and Jamie Lee Curtis. I think this is a VERY Impressive film, and I'm happy that it became a cult classic, since the film deserves it! I'll give this film 5 out of 5 stars and an "A+" grade!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Jeff M

As much as I love John Carpenter's original 1978 horror masterpiece HALLOWEEN, I often rue its existence because of its inspiration for countless inferior rip-offs such as this trash. I can't think of a single solitary thing that works here, and it only earns its one star rating because of a few moments of magic from David Copperfield. His presence here is admittedly peculiar, but his sleight of hand prestidigitation gives us a brief respite from the rest of the schlock. My biggest shock of the whole enterprise is how poorly it's made - the lighting is so dark that it's frequently impossible to make out who is on screen. The characters themselves are so shabbily written and performed that they become virtually interchangeable. There's not a single character about whom we care one iota, including screen queen herself Jamie Lee Curtis, whose awkward performance must be the worst of her career. There doesn't even seem to be an attempt at suspense or thrills, and those who like the blood and gore are going to be sorely disappointed as well. There is no doubt who the killer is, and his/her climactic reveal is laughable. This train is more terrible than terror!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Erik B

Not the greatest horror flick, but still some fun to be had. Decent twists and turns make this one more interesting than your average slasher. Not on par with the greats, but a good second-string horror movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Jay H

Solid Canadian horror flick. Compared to the remake, this is a classic.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You don't have to think much about this film. It's predictable. But I like the scary translucent mask near the end. It's OK.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

R P

Terror Train is a movie that I thought I liked it more than I did. With this re-watch I see more of the issues. Don't get me wrong, I do like it. I mean, who doesn't like Jamie Lee Curtis as the final girl, and a group of victims, I mean young people, trapped on a train for New Year's Eve? (https://foreverfinalgirl.com/terror-train/)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/27/21

Full Review

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Roger Spottiswoode

Director

Ben Johnson

Carne

Jamie Lee Curtis

Alana Maxwell

Hart Bochner

Doc Manley

David Copperfield

Ken the Magician

Derek MacKinnon

Kenny Hampson

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

A run-of-the-mill slasher film whose central gimmick is setting its action on a train.

Rated: C

Apr 14, 2011

Full Review

Time Out

Better than most of its kind.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The classic horror films of the 1930s appealed to the intelligence of its audiences, to their sense of humor and irony. Movies like Terror Train... just don't care. They're a series of sensations, strung together on a plot.

Rated: 1/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Mark H. Harris

Black Horror Movies

While Terror Train has a good reputation among horror fans, until the hectic climactic battle between “final girl” and killer, it’s mostly run-of-the-mill slasher fare that distinguishes itself by... having Jamie Lee Curtis as the final girl.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 18, 2022

Full Review

John Brosnan

Starburst

Terror Train is okay as these things go... It has touches of ingenuity, and provides a few memorable shocks along the way.

Jul 26, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The train setting is inspired, but the identity of the killer is painfully obvious.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 9, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

During a hazing, a fraternity of pre-med students has a particularly sinister prank in store for one their more timid pledges (Derek MacKinnon). With the help of a coed, Alana Maxwell (Jamie Lee Curtis), they pull off the prank so well that the pledge needs to be institutionalized as a result. After several years pass and people forget the incident, those involved with the prank are ready to celebrate their graduation by having a costume party on a train, but they haven't escaped their past yet.

Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Executive Producer: Lamar Card, Daniel Grodnik
Screenwriter: T.Y. Drake
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Astral Bellevue Pathé
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 1980, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2016

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