Horror Express

noblerot · 12th June 2002, 04:11 PM

When I first filled out my profile here at the CLW, I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about which CL movies were my favorites. I basically entered the first ones that came to mind. Horror Express was one of them. I remembered it being a rather creepy and claustrophobic film about a train speeding across Siberia with a monster aboard, but I didn't remember many details. Just that creepy feeling.

I have since dusted off the old video and given it a whirl. Oh my goodness! How perceptions can change! This movie isn't creepy at all, it's hilarious and not necessarily by intent.

I love the gross out scenes! PC (as the good Dr. Wells) executes a difficult double Krendler with a hacksaw twist, popping the tops off craniums with ease to expose gray matter as smooth as a baby's bottom. Peekaboo! And you've gotta love the fossil's eyeball they poke and squish with glee. How delightfully cheap!

The science is silly and the effects are poor - observe the glowy eyes pasted on the inspector's eyelids. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I still like it. But I do.

**Matt Gemmell** · 12th June 2002, 04:30 PM

I agree . Horror Express is great fun . It's just the kind of thing Hammer should have tried at the time .The whole film is so outragious and played by all the cast totally straight ( as it should be) There's an excellent DVD available on the Euroshock label..., no great extras to speak of but nice packaging and a very good print .

Skorpionn · 13th June 2002, 02:18 AM

What a great memory - I loved that movie. As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm going to spend a life time collecting my favorite CL moives, and that is definitely one of them.

noblerot · 13th June 2002, 03:26 PM

Even though the story is silly and the effects are low budget, the movie still has a good atmosphere - the lonely train whistle and that eerie little ditty are particularly effective, I think. The white eyes are a good effect. When I was young, I used to erase the iris and pupils from faces in newspapers and magazines for a creepy giggle. I much preferred that to the old mustache and glasses.

CL looks quite handsome with his mustache but I didn't find any swoonable scenes in this movie. The way his character softens around the pretty countess is rather sweet though. I also can't help but notice when they're all gathered in one of the cars that CL is about a head taller than everyone else. He definitely stands out.