LAST PASSENGER
UK, 2013, 97 minutes, colour.
Dougray Scott, Kara Tainton, Iddo Goldberg, David Schofield, Lindsay Duncan, Joshua Kaynama.
Directed by Omid Nooshin.
Last Passenger is an unexpectedly exciting thriller, small-scale in so far as this is a train speeding through the English countryside, Hastings-bound train, passing through Tunbridge. The story is quite straightforward, establishing the characters on the train, the last passengers, the realisation of the danger, the human reactions, the plans to stop the train, to dislodge the last carriage.
It would seem that the guard on the train was killed, somebody getting on and throwing the driver from the train, the new, anonymous driver, bent on self-destruction as well as of those on the train.
The film seems to keep something of real time. The central character is a doctor, Lewis, played by Dougray Scott, who has his seven-year-old son, Max (Joshua Kaynama) with him after a day at the theatre in London. There are a number of rowdy characters, partying, who do get off the train as well as a rather snooty passenger who discounts the difficulties. By the end, there is the doctor’s son, a young woman, Sarah (Kara Toionton) who is an event manager who befriends the doctor and the boy. There is a businessman, somewhat gruff, who has previously stood his ground against a Polish Underground worker, Jan (Iddo Goldberg) who was smoking. There is also a grandmother, played by Lindsay Duncan.
The film keeps a good pace, credible with the human reactions, interesting in terms of what might be done to stop the train, the dangers, and the ultimate success.
1. An interesting disaster film, small scale, credible?
2. The title, the train, the passengers, those who got off, the remaining six, the prospect of death? The interactions? Using ingenuity?
3. The credibility of the plot, somebody taking over the train, the murder of the guard, isolating himself in the driver’s compartment, the intention of suicide? The behaviour of the passengers?
4. The scenes of the train, speeding, the attempts to get off the train, the dangers?
5. Lewis, snoozing, Max, his dinosaur toy, with the other passengers, watching? Father and son, the day at the theatre, the dead mother? Observing the other passengers? The partygoers and their getting off? Peter and his confrontation with Jan about the cigarette? The man with the computer and his disbelief? Lewis and searching for the guard, ultimately finding him? Trying to contact the driver? His concern about Max, the dangers with the opening door? The discussions with Sarah, friendliness, with Elaine? The phone calls, trying to find out what happened? His leadership? Telling Max to obey him? Jan and his attempt to get off, holding him, bring him to safety? The idea of the explosion, his setting it up, on the wrong side of the coupling? His watching, the courage, the fire, impossible to leap? His finally getting off?
6. Max, seven years old, love for his father, the day in the city, tired, not obeying his father, the open door, playing with his toys? The friendship with Sarah, their talk, playing games, even at dangerous times? Watching Jan and his magic tricks? Wanting to stay with his father, not getting off in the tunnel? Ultimately saved?
7. Sarah, Max spilling the coffee on her coat? Talk, friendship, a job, Lewis and his abilities, diagnosing her heart beat? Her talking with Max, playing the games? Encouraging Lewis? Responding to the dangers?
8. Elaine, grandmother, the toys for her grandchildren, pleasant, with Max? The strain, the attack, her death?
9. Peter, confronting Jan, the discussions, his change of heart, his own children not communicating with him, his collaboration? Phone calls? His helping Jan with the uncoupling, falling to his death?
10. The group facing death? Fighting back? Encouraging each other? the attempts to uncouple, the explosion, the final success? Lewis and his injuries, regaining consciousness? A satisfying ending?
