This week we finally got around to seeing the film adaptation of The Girl On The Train, we had this as one of our must-see films of last year, as we had loved the book by Paula Hawkins that it was based on (our book review here)
The biggest decision of all for us wanting to see the film was the casting of Emily Blunt in the title role. From quirky roles in the likes of Sunshine Cleaning to action films like Sicario and even modern day blockbusters like the Snow White and the Huntsman sequel, Winters War we were sure she would make the film watchable at the very least.
A clever trailer campaign also filled us with a lot of promise, with it appearing to be looking like another Gone Girl. Although this film had no David Fincher at the helm, that task went to Tate Taylor, who had hits with The Help and Get On Up, so this was very much a change of genre for him, and sadly it showed.
The film is narrated to us by Rachel (Emily Blunt) the girl on the train of the title. We learn over the course of the film that she is now an alcoholic whose marriage to Tom (Justin Theroux) has failed, she believes in part due to her failure to conceive, but also her drunken acts of behaviour including one at an event held by Martha (Lisa Kudrow) the wife of Tom’s boss.
Tom has moved on and now has a child with Anna (Rebecca Ferguson) with Rachel now having nothing in her life, she shares a room with Cathy (Laura Prepon) but they do not appear to be very close.
Rachel travels on the train every day, formerly to work, but now to get out her home and drink. On her journey, she passes the road where Tom lives and where she used to share a home with him.
From the train she focuses on a couple that she sees from the train, Megan (Haley Bennett) & Scott (Luke Evans) who appear to have everything, being young and very much in love.
All that changes when one evening returning home on the train, Rachel sees Megan in an embrace with another man, who we learn is her psychiatrist Dr. Abdic (Edgar Ramirez)
Being in her drunken state, she gets off the train to confront her, adultery is what ended her relationship, and she wants to call her out for ruining her breaking her image of happiness.
As we see her get off the train and enter via a tunnel, we next see her awake and covered in blood having what she believes was an alcohol based blackout.
During this blackout, it is revealed that Megan has gone missing and all these people are connected as Megan used to babysit for Tom and Anna. Rachel shares what she saw of Adbic with the detective on the case, DS Riley (Alison Janney)who becomes
The Docter then becomes a suspect, as does Scott, but could she be a suspect too? Find out by watching the Girl on a Train.
We have to admit we found the book considerably better, and the film follows it enough to not add any real suspense to those who know the ending. The film has an almost soap opera like feel to it, whereas the book was very dark.
It is a watchable thriller, thanks to solid performances from the cast, although Blunt is far superior to all of them. Her performance deserved better material and that is a real shame.
You can find the film at Amazon here:
You can find the book here:
You can find the trailer here:
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