Director: Omid Nooshin,
Starring: Dougray Scott, Kara Tointon, Iddo Goldberg, David Schofield, Lindsay Duncan, Joshua Kaynama,
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Certificate: 15
LAST PASSENGER hit me from out of nowhere. The little British thriller with big aspirations has a rough-around-the-edges charm that permeates throughout, but can a small British production really hit the highs of Hollywood’s hitters? Well, whatever it lacks in production values it more than makes up for with great performances and nail-biting suspense.
With a dread filled build-up where you just know something isn’t quite right, we are introduced to a seemingly random bunch of characters on the commute home. A doctor with the ability to diagnose by just looking at a patient, Lewis (Scott), is travelling with his son Max (Kaynama). As the train begins to miss certain stops, it appears that the last 6 passengers have had their journey hijacked by an unknown assailant for unknown reasons. Cue multiple attempts at stopping the train with character conflict gradually building.
The simple premise is elevated from the ranks of forgettable obscurity for multiple reasons. First of all, Nooshin keeps everything self-contained. We never once leave the train, allowing for a claustrophobic feel as well as a terrifying sense of the unknown. Whereas many action films before it have contained a subplot involving the detective in charge of stopping the crises, no such sub-plot exists here. We get to see how it would really feel for characters in such a situation and we are offered no respite.
The cast have been chosen well, and the characters fully fleshed out. Scott is marvellous in the lead role and has many a time where he snaps at his son, but keeps a relatable concerned tone that a real father would have. In one very sweet but intense moment, Lewis uses ‘Simon Says’ to coax his son into the crash position which is both tender and terrifying. Tointon plays Sarah, a caring stranger who steals most of her scenes. Tointon has a face made for film as her facial expressions dominate, resulting in the camera cutting to her even when she isn’t talking. She come across as so real, and not just an actress waiting to say her lines.
Above all though, this is an action film and despite its limitations, this truly is the little engine that could. The restraints have made it more creative and thoughtful. The tension escalates slowly and then shoots forward at an incredible pace, meaning we care about the characters and the outcome. Could easily go toe-to-toe with any recent blockbuster, we may be in an era where the imagination is the limit, but sometimes films should try and follow the less is more approach. The only real issue is the insular nature means we don’t get many answers for a satisfactory ending. This is how I remember good thrill rides being from days past.
[usr=4]LAST PASSENGER is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 27th January.
