The Death Train
| The Death Train | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Luis Bayonas |
| Directed by | Igor Auzins |
| Starring | Hugh Keays-Byrne Max Meldrum |
| Music by | Suzi Pointon |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Robert Bruning |
| Cinematography | Richard Wallace |
| Editor | Ron Williams |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Production companies | Grundy Productions Gemini Productions |
| Original release | |
| Release | 1 November 1978 |
The Death Train (alternately titled Death Train) is a 1978 Australian made-for-television horror thriller film[1] directed by Igor Auzins, and starring Hugh Keays-Byrne and Max Meldrum.
It was produced by Robert Bruning's Gemini Productions.[2]
Plot
A dead man is discovered at the bottom of his garden. It appears he has been hit by a train even though no train has run along those tracks for years.
Cast
- Hugh Keays-Byrne as Ted Morrow
- Ingrid Mason as Vera
- Max Meldrum as Johnny Loomis
- Ken Goodlet as Sergeant McMasters
- Brian Wenzel as Peter Murdoch
- Colin Taylor as Herbert Cook
- Terry Camilleri as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Production
The film was shot in Sydney.[3] Shooting started September 1977.[4]
Reception
Don Groves of the Sydney Morning Herald said "Bruning has made some terrific thrillers, but this isn't one of them. After an intriguing opening, The Death Train simply runs off the rails... the script is given such tongue-in-cheek treatment, it's little more than a farce."[3]
Charles Tatum from eFilmCritic rated the film a negative two out of five stars, criticizing the film's script, and editing.[5]
Dave Sindelar from Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings gave the film a positive review, stating that the film's overall quirkiness (from its bizarre mystery, offbeat characters, and surreal humor) worked in its favor.[6]
References
- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p42
- ^ Beilby, Peter; Murray, Scott (September–October 1979). "Robert Bruning". Cinema Papers. pp. 517–519.
- ^ a b Groves, Don (9 July 1978). "A Movie That's Off the Rails". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 55.
- ^ "Rugged - so he's a villain". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 September 1977. p. 100.
- ^ Tatum, Charles. "Movie Review - Death Train, The - eFilmCritic". eFilmCritic.com. eFilmCritic. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ Sindelar, Dave (6 November 2018). "The Death Train (1978)". FantasticMovieMusings.com. Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
External links
- The Death Train at AllMovie
- Death Train at IMDb
- The Death Train at Letterboxd
- The Death Train at the British Film Institute[better source needed]
- The Death Train at Screen Australia
- Death Train at AustLit (subscription required)