Review of Runaway Train (1985) by Jeff H — 13 Dec 2014

I had never heard of this film before I stumbled across it on Netflix and now that I've seen it, I'm actually pretty impressed. Featuring at least one Oscar nominated performance (Eric Roberts is fantastic as the dim-witted Buck), the film is perfectly paced, just violent enough without going into parody and has great acting from all 3 of our main characters, though admittedly they can sometimes be over the top.

Jon Voight is the main offender for this, but he's still really good acting against type as the desperate, violent Manny, who wants to retain his freedom at all costs and will go to great lengths to keep it.

Roberts can get annoying at times in his role, but his character is great and you end up feeling really bad for him by the end despite some of the seedier parts of his character's personality. Rebecca De Mornay is also fantastic as a hapless worker on the train.

The movie is very existential in parts, particularly the great ending, but it also has a weird misogynistic side that loses it a few points in my book. Its strength, though, lies in Voight's and Roberts's chemistry together and the Alaskan wilderness combined with the design of the train augment that and make this one one to watch.