The release of “Night Train Murders” on 4K UHD is certainly cause for celebration, especially for those who, like me, missed its initial Blu-ray outing. This new edition appears to offer significant improvements, a welcome development even if the price point is a bit steep – perhaps anticipating that some will be “double-dipping” rather than making a first-time purchase. This is a film that will appeal to a curious few, drawn by its notoriety, and a dedicated fanbase, though that audience, admittedly, is ever-shrinking.
“Night Train Murders” is a remarkably well-crafted thriller. It’s a film that, at times, delves into the realm of sexual shock, yet simultaneously possesses a layer of maturity in its script and performances that elevates it. The narrative is surprisingly deep, delivering a rich and ultimately bleak experience. While I initially felt it was a shame a franchise didn’t emerge, the lingering thought of one of the characters still being at large is, in itself, quite chilling.
The story follows Giulio, an esteemed doctor, as he eagerly awaits the return of his daughter and niece from college for Christmas dinner. The two girls board a crowded night train, but an incident forces them to switch to an empty train, hoping to avoid a late arrival home. Concurrently, two petty thieves, Flavio and Curly, attempting a quick escape from town on the packed train, become entangled with the sinister nymphomaniac Macha, and they too end up on the empty train.
The film’s pace shifts dramatically once the action moves to the empty train. The tension ratchets up considerably as the girls encounter the three antagonists backed by a haunting harmonica solo, leading to the difficult-to-watch “murders of the title.” Interspersed with this is Giulio’s story, which subtly reveals his personal history and the smaller problems his family is facing, all of which will ultimately impact the unfolding tragedy. The final act sees the doctor and his wife, in a surprisingly believable scenario, stumble upon Macha and the thieves, making the horrific connection to the murders. From there, the film transforms into a powerful revenge story.
“Night Train Murders” maintains a compelling trundle throughout, serving as a terrific example of how a seemingly simple story can be genuinely entertaining. The film admirably refuses to settle into a particular genre “ilk,” and its changes in pace are welcome. A continuous level of grit is palpable on screen, with a couple of notable “unclean gates,” and thankfully, the 4K UHD transfer has preserved this “dirtier look” while significantly upgrading the picture quality.
The cast, many of whom have appeared in similar genre efforts, are well-chosen. Envio delivers a fantastic performance, expertly conveying the concern, horror, and terror of a father. Early scenes portray him as a sensitive, yet at times cold and career-focused man. As the horrors transpire, Envio brings the necessary intensity to ultimately dish out justice for his losses. Machi is suitably demented and manipulative, possessing an obscured perversity beneath a respectable exterior, and maintaining just the right amount of mystery.
It’s important to note that the film is very violent, though perhaps not in the way most will anticipate. There is one particular sequence, for which the film is infamous, that is handled with a surprising degree of restraint, yet remains undeniably difficult to watch. Nudity is surprisingly tame, and compared to films like “Terror Express,” “rumpy-pumpy” is scant and brief. The director handles the sensitive subject matter with a surprising maturity, and the film never feels as though it is exploiting the cast for cheap thrills.
It’s clear that the original Italian title, “L’ultimo treno della notte” (The Last Train Of The Night), directly reflects the core premise. The Japanese title, “Murders on the Last Night Train,” is a great example of a market taking the original concept and making it explicitly clear what the viewer can expect – a concise and accurate summary.
However, the US titles are where it gets truly wild. The proliferation of “Last House…” and “New House on the Left” variations (“Last House – Part II,” “New House on the Left,” “Second House on the Left,” “The New House on the Left”) is a blatant attempt to cash in on the notoriety and box office success of Wes Craven’s “The Last House on the Left” (1972). “Torture Train” and “Christmas Massacre” are also very much in the exploitation vein, opting for sensationalism and shock value to draw in an audience. “Christmas Massacre” is particularly interesting given the film’s setting around Christmas, but it’s clearly chosen for its blunt, visceral appeal.
It’s a testament to the film’s quality that despite being burdened with such disparate and often misleading titles, it has endured and found a dedicated audience. It also offers a humorous, if cynical, look at how cultural contexts and marketing strategies can dramatically alter a film’s perceived identity. “Night Train Murders” deserves it’s notoriety and place in film history, elevated above the rest.
There is an abundance of poster art for “Night Train Murders.” Over the years it had seen all manner of releases from bootlegs during the Video Nasty era to recent boutique releases with imagery designed to capitalise on the more gruelling moments in the film. Whilst the odd one would not look out of place on a Miss Marple DVD.
There are a lot of options for the film. Head and shoulders above the rest is 88 Films recent upgrade.
It’s expensive and when it comes to supplementary content you might not feel it justifies the price, considering the previous Blu-Ray version can be found for £8 on eBay.
But that’s physical media and if this sells out, there might not be as high a quality release again…
