Joe, a ticket-collector, is riding the last train out of London with a small group of passengers. When the train brakes violently and comes to a sudden halt deep in the middle of a forest, it seems they have hit something on the line.
But when the driver ventures out to investigate he never returns, leaving the passengers in a state of panic – particularly when Joe sees the driver's mutilated body outside the carriage.
Realising there's something dangerous lurking in the forest, Joe tell the group to secure themselves in the carriage but soon the creature is stalking the train, picking them off one- by-one.
During a vicious battle they manage to kill the creature, revealing it to be a lycanthrope.
However, celebrations are cut short when they hear more howls coming from the forest
Horror films like this, where it features a confined space and a small cast, always have the same, predictable set up. The 'hero' of the film has just failed on something or lost something, and is having a peerage problem. But they always have an ally with them, and usually it's the girl of their dreams.
Then we are introduced to the rest of the characters one by one, and here, Joe May as well been handing them tickets saying 'you'll get killed', because it's handled pretty clumsily. But it's a trope that features in all 'small groups in peril horrors' so I'll forgive its shortcomings.
What is important in films like these is the mid section, the moment after the scene where it's all quiet for a moment, and then the first victim meets their maker, what happens then on is the meat and potatoes of the narrative, and here it's a lot of fun, but as I've said before, you can more or less guess who's going to get it next.
We have the older couple who won't leave each other's side, the abhorrent teen in the phone, the selfish mother, he rich sleazy snob, an overweight lager lout, a studious nerd, the one who played Eragon who never made it famous because the film flopped, and of course, everyone's favourite, Sean Pertwee.
So for a good hour, it's aware of nerves between the group, whilst we hear the campest howl in the background getting closet and closer. The cast all play their parts well, the characters make some really stupid choices, but it only adds to the fun.
It's a mix of Snakes On A Plane, Dog Soldiers, Creep, with a little bit of Snowpiercer thrown in. But the best thing about Hyetts film, is that it doesn't take itself seriously, it's pretty much self deprecating for the majority of the second act, but keeps it semi serious.
The biggest flaw with the film is the ending, it's doesn't know how to conclude the story, so it just finishes, and it's quite surprising.
But all in all, it's a fun ninety minutes, and it keeps that feeling of claustrophobia you'd expect in a film like this throughout.
