Last Passenger

Out-of-control trains have been a staple of movies ever since the silent days. Filmmaker Omid Nooshin's reasonably exciting contribution to the genre stars Dougray Scott as Lewis, a widowed doctor traveling with his young son Max on the commuter line from London to their home in Tunbridge Wells. In the rather sluggish opening third, various passengers depart as the train stops at stations until only four others remain: Sarah (Kara Tointon), an attractive woman who recently broke up with her boyfriend; Elaine (Lindsay Duncan), an older woman carrying gifts for her grandkids; Peter (David Schofield), an officious businessman; and Jan (Iddo Goldberg), a hot-tempered Polish immigrant. All are thrown into understandable panic when the train is apparently taken over by a suicidal driver who is speeding towards a certain crash. Most of the remaining screen time follows attempts to avert disaster by getting the brakes to work or taking out the driver—although there are a few digressions, including the beginnings of a romance between Lewis and Sarah, and a heart attack victim who requires Lewis's attention. Last Passenger is hobbled by an obviously modest budget, but while it can't measure up to earlier films such as Runaway Train, The Taking of Pelham 123, or Unstoppable, it's still an engaging enough popcorn flick. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)