Review of The Midnight Meat Train (2008) by Dillinger P — 01 Oct 2014

I'm all for gore, I'm all for Clive Barker, christ the mans a genius. But when it comes to this, an exercise in boring and laborious viewing whats the point? I've watched films over double the length of this and this felt longer.

The Midnight Meat Train stars Vinnie Jones as a mute serial butcher on an underground train station in the states, Bradley Cooper plays Leon a struggling photographer who, in order to progress his career, begins to take pictures of dangerous situations.

He soon finds himself entangled in The Butchers plans however, before everyone gets involved and it just dwindles into shit. There are things about this film I like, The cast for example are actually pretty good, were it not for some of the hellishly cliched dialogue they have to utter, they pass the movie off as watchable.

Vinnie actually does very well as a threatening mute serial killer and Bradley manages to get a nice balance between obsessed and loving photographer. Roger Bart but kind of does his thing and Leslie Bibb pulls in a performance that shows most people in the film up.

It's just none of it is written well. This film from the get go, sets out to be as violent as possible and at points, there are some nice moments. A fight near the end is particularly outstanding and equally disgusting.

But the director see's fit to fire so much CGI blood at the camera every time something horrid happens it takes the sting right out of the terror. If like myself you can spot CGI blood a mile away, and trust me here most people will, its off putting, it makes the entire experience weak.

I dont believe in what your showing me, this renders half the movie pointless as im not shocked by the violence or effected. However the movie does have the odd practical effect that works out nicely, its just too little in such a barbaric film.

The cinematography also at times can be brilliant, spiralling camera shots through a haunting apartment as Vinnie stalks his prey or haunting lighting on the underground train. At times the visuals really do eminate Clive Barkers warped mind.

There is a decent movie in here somewhere, the problem is a just dont care. This film isnt terrible but its not good either. In fact most of it is instantly forgettable. I will not have nightmares about this, the next time I am on the subway I will not even remember this film, im devoid of any real care because the film just plods along like it doesnt care.

The only reason to watch this film is for its cast and the occasional nice idea but other than that, its horrible pacing, cliche after cliche inclusion and violence you cannot be effected by. whats the point?