Horror Express
This slightly goofy horror-science fiction hybrid is lent a bit of class from participants Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and benefits from its bit of Roger Corman economic energy. (Producer Bernard Gordon wanted to re-use a train built for one of his other film productions, thus Horror Express was born.)
Lee’s Professor Alex Caxton is transporting his recently discovered (and supposedly frozen) missing link mummy on the Trans-Siberian Express in 1906 in a wooden crate. Friendly rival Dr. Wells (Cushing) is very curious about what Caxton’s box contains (especially since a thief is found dead next to the large package before boarding on the train even begins). Wells pays a porter to investigate and when the porter is found dead - all hell (and alien possession) breaks loose.
Yep! It turns out Caxton’s mummy is actually an alien who can fry out his victim’s eyes while absorbing all of their knowledge. Soon, all passengers -from the working class to the treacherous to the royally based - are at risk because of the alien’s hungry need for survival and in danger of experiencing a truly mind scorching experience. Much like The Thing, the alien can also travel from body to body and ultimately no one can truly be trusted.
Overall, Director Gene Martin manages to produce a work that combines the experience of the more dignified Val Lewton horrors with the more gruesome shock laden efforts of the 1980’s and 1990’s. This is a film on the cusp of a new world and while it’s orb blasting special effects are often cheesy and unbelievable - several of the moments (including some body cringing autopsy scenes) are truly gruesomely fun.
More than anything else, though, Martin and writers, Arnaud D’Usseau and Julian Halevy, prove that Masterpiece Theater subtleties and eccentric characters (including a half crazed religious Swami and a bullying, murderous Cossack played by Telly Savalas) can mix to provide an enjoyable, horror infused product.
Most importantly, the last cinematic reel is film gold with armies of alien possessed zombies chasing Cushing and his leading lady throughout the copious halls of the train. This is beautifully played excitement and a nice look at horror film making in transition from the classier Hammer Horrors of yesteryear to the oft gut strewn theatrics of today.
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