Night Train to Terror

Night Train to Terror is a 1985 American independent horror film written by Philip Yordan and directed by Jay Schlossberg-Cohen, with segments directed by John Carr, Phillip Marshak, Tom McGowan, and Gregg C. Tallas. Since its release the film has become a cult classic.

Night Train to Terror
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJay Schlossberg-Cohen
Segments:
John Carr
Phillip Marshak
Tom McGowan
Gregg C. Tallas
Produced byJay Schlossberg-Cohen
Written byPhilip Yordan
StarringJohn Phillip Law
Cameron Mitchell
Richard Moll
Marc Lawrence
Music byEddy Lawrence Manson
CinematographyFrank Byers et al.
Edited bySteven Nelson et al.
Production
company
Visto International
Distributed byVisto International
Release date
  • May 1985 (1985-05) (US)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

God (Ferdy Mayne) and Satan (Tony Giorgio) are on a train discussing the fate of three individuals as they watch their stories unfold. In the first story, "The Case of Harry Billings", a man is kidnapped and taken to an insane asylum where he is put under hypnosis and lures victims to be tortured and murdered as part of an organ-harvesting operation. The second story, "The Case of Greta Connors", involves two young lovers who become part of a sinister cult of people fascinated with death. The final story, "The Case of Claire Hansen", involves an apprentice to the Devil who is out to destroy mankind and a group of immortals who are out to stop him. As God and Satan discuss who will go to Heaven and who to Hell, a pop-rock band appears at some moments, singing and making a music video, unaware that the train they are riding is heading to the place of their final destination.

Cast

Production

Parts of the film were shot in Salt Lake City, Utah as well as La Jolla and San Diego, California.[1]

Night Train to Terror was pieced together from three other films:[2]

  • Cataclysm (1980) (AKA: The Nightmare Never Ends; Satan's Supper) (edited into the Claire Hansen segment)[3]
  • Death Wish Club (1983) (AKA: The Dark Side of Love; Carnival of Fools; Gretta) (edited into the Greta Connors segment)[4]
  • Scream Your Head Off (1981; unfinished) (edited into the Harry Billings segment)

Footage from this film was also later edited into Marilyn Alive and Behind Bars (1992).

In the end credits, Satan is credited as being played by "Lu Sifer" and God by "Himself".

Release

The film was given a limited release theatrically by Visto International in 1985.

Home media

The film was first released on DVD and Blu-ray in October 2014 by Vinegar Syndrome. Extras for the film include the full-length version of Greta (aka Death Wish Club), an interview with producer/director Jay Schlossberg-Cohen, an interview with assistant editor Wayne Schmidt, and a commentary track by J.A. Kerswell.[5]

Legacy

Since its release Night Train to Terror has become an infamous cult classic of grade-Z movie fare.[6] The film is often compared to Plan 9 from Outer Space due to its bad dialogue, poor editing, and numerous continuity errors.

References
  1. D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: a history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423605874.
  2. Van Scott, Miriam (1999). The Encyclopedia of Hell. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 222. ISBN 978-0312244422.
  3. Mitchell, Charles P. (2002). The Devil on Screen: Feature Films Worldwide. McFarland & Company. p. 46. ISBN 9781476605333.
  4. Weldon, Michael (1996). The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film. Macmillan. p. 151. ISBN 9780312131494.
  5. Macomber, Shawn (October 15, 2013). ""NIGHT TRAIN TO TERROR" (DVD Review)". Fangoria. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  6. Of Dreck & Drink: Night Train to Terror and 2nd Shift Brewing Albino Pygmy Puma, by Jim Vorel Paste Magazine
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