Reviews
The Midnight Meat Train
Reviewed by: Ryan Rotten
Rating: 7 out of 10
Movie Details: View here
Cast:
Bradley Cooper as Leon Kauffman
Vinnie Jones as Mahogany
Leslie Bibb as Maya
Brooke Shields as Susan Hoff
Roger Bart as Jurgis
Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Review:
Midnight Meat Train, when first set to paper by Clive Barker in his late-20s, was a reaction to his confusing and uncomforting first time in Manhattan, notably a subway excursion that propelled him beyond the city limits. The fears that came out of that ordeal inspired one of the most unforgettable and long-cherished entries in Barker's lauded Books of Blood collection, a story of a chance encounter between a New Yorker and a subway-lurking serial killer. Each of them feeding the city in their own ways. MMT is arguably one of Barker's leanest, meanest works, and from the Books of Blood it was always a leading heavyweight contender for the silver screen. Years after trading hands from Bernard Rose (who considered the material for a Candyman sequel) to Patrick Tatopoulos, MMT has been super-injected by the hyper stylings of Ryuhei Kitamura and the assured, bumpy narrative expansion by Jeff Buhler. For the first time since Rose's Candyman (possibly one of the best horror films of the '90s in my opinion), they've done right by the Barker name as MMT is a mature adaptation that pulls no punches and takes no prisoners even if it does tend to meander.
Bradley Cooper is Leon, a photographer living with his supportive girlfriend, Maya (Bibb), a waitress at a nearby diner where the former exercises his dislike for red meat by regularly bringing tofu for the cook to prepare. Leon gets his big chance to woo a local art gallery owner, Susan Hoff (Shields), but when she delivers him some harsh truths about his work, he's forced to go deeper and get grittier before his photos can be deemed worthy to line Hoff's gallery. So, off Leon goes, into the bowels of the city, at first drawn to the subway by following a group of thugs who ultimately harass a young woman Leon saves. The next day, however, said woman is on the front page of the paper, reported "missing." His second jaunt to the subway introduces him to a tall, trim fella named Mahogany (Jones in a non-speaking role) which sets off an obsession in Leon and an eventual suspicion that Mahogany could be responsible for a rash of disappearances throughout the city. This naturally upsets his loving relationship with Maya and propels Leon down a blood-soaked path.
MMT rockets out of the station with something downright furious in its heart - starting off strong and wasting little time plumbing the depths of Leon's dedication to his craft. And Cooper is up to the task, wriggling out of the comedic skin he was growing accustomed to in films like The Wedding Crashers. Buhler constructs an involving story, falling back on the source material for the last third of the film. He parallels Leon's downward spiral with some scenes of outright jaw-dropping commuter assaults involving Mahogany who's always wielding a silver mallet that he puts to expert use over and over and over again. And the results never grow tiring. Hallelujah. Buhler's expansion of Barker's tale comes with growing pains, however, and there's a little fat that could be trimmed mostly involving Leon and Maya's often cryptic interactions. There's also a sense of sympathy for Mahogany, evident in the Barker story, that's lost in translation. Still, Jones is a force to be reckoned with and his performance recalls the old days of cinema where so much expression needs to be read in the eyes and face.
As Kitamura's American debut, MMT cuts to the bone and sets the senses ablaze with eye-popping visuals. The man f**kin' goes to town importing the kinetic mayhem he wrought in Versus and combining it with Jonathan Sela's photography that embraces the sickening fluorescent and neon tints of the subway and the city. If Michael Mann had directed a slasher film somewhere between Thief and The Keep, Midnight Meat Train might have been the outcome - cold, unyielding and driven by a synth '80s score (here, executed deftly by Johannes Kobilke and Robb Williamson).
There are some ballsy, memorable kills on display and Kitamura doesn't skimp on the blood. He also obviously doesn't mind the ambiguity Buhler's script offers in the end (a faithful conclusion) which is so goddamn refreshing in this day and age of exposition making the world go 'round.
Questionable pacing issues aside, Midnight Meat Train is a welcome, adult R-rated horror film. A sobering reminder - hitting you like a slap to the face - that there are still plenty of Barker stories, however bizarre, ripe for adaptation. Midnight Meat Train was one and it may have taken some time to reach its final destination, but the wait was worth it. It's seedy, strange, creepy as hell and it relishes an exploitive gross-out gag here and there. That's a ticket to ride I'd buy any day.
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Comments
Posted by: Caterpillar on May 2, 2008 at 09:38:31
I usually agree with your tastes so this review makes me very happy. MMT is one of my most anticipated films of 2008 and now I can look forward to it even more. I sure hope that the BOB adaptations will continue being made now with some regularity. And, who knows, if MMT does decent business at the box office, maybe some of couple dozen other projects Barker has in development (hell) at various studios and production offices will get resurrected. On the other hand, maybe the low budget, independent route is the way to go. It's just too bad not a lot of what Barker puts out lend itself to that approach. You can make an ABARAT film for $10 million or less.
Posted by: tzarinna on May 2, 2008 at 18:18:28
Well I was already sold before the review but even more now. :) *sheds tear of joy*
Posted by: McLovin on May 2, 2008 at 18:37:46
This review didn't help because I was gonna watch this no matter what. Hope it does good business at the B.O and I hope Kitamura doesn't sell out like other asian director's who gets suckered in to directing big budget PG-13 movies.
Posted by: Dave on May 3, 2008 at 12:54:16
Yes! I've been following Midnight Meat Train movie news since Bernard Rose was attached to it. (Early 90's?) I'm glad that it's going to be worth the wait. The ending being intact and a synth score is the best news. Thanks for writing up a detailed review of this one, Ryan. I can't wait for August 1st.
Posted by: Geo on May 3, 2008 at 15:07:39
I've been facinated by this movie ever since comic con. I even got an invite to see a screening of it, unfortunately I was busy that evening. It worked out best that way, because now I REALLY can't wait to see it, and i'm sure the anticipation through the summer will be well worth it!
Posted by: Luis on May 22, 2008 at 10:42:40
Finally! MMT!! But what I really would kill to see is an adaption of The Damnation Game. I dare dream....
Posted by: bruno edw on May 24, 2008 at 15:26:19
nada!
Posted by: bruno edw on May 24, 2008 at 15:28:15
muy bueno esta todas las imagenes q veo quisiera ver mas sobre esto!1
Posted by: enzo on May 26, 2008 at 15:01:13
???????????????
Posted by: Brandon on June 6, 2008 at 17:10:42
After the complete letdowns "I Am Legend" and "Invasion", I simply cannot wait for a movie adaptation of a great horror story without a sing-song-sellout happy ending.
Posted by: barkerfan666 on June 14, 2008 at 19:43:04
WE NEED TO START A VIRAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO GET THIS MOVIE A WIDER RELEASE!!!
The Lionsgate decision is based purely on internal politics. The new president hates the old presidents' movies and is trying to "dump" all of them!
Remember: the only thing that will make these people change their minds is if they get the impression there is an undeniable HUNGER for this film from dedicated horror fans.
The one thing they cannot resist is the smell of BIG TIME PROFIT! It's the Hollywood life-blood!
There is currently a lot of internal pressure for a wider release of this film and FAN PRESSURE is needed to push this decision over the edge.
If you wish to see MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN in all its big screen glory at a THEATER near you, please email investor relations at Lionsgate at keasterling@lionsgate.com or call the main office at (310) 449-9200 and express your desire to see MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN get the release it deserves. BE POLITE AND PROFESSIONAL! We don't want to piss them off, just tip them off as to how many fans out there REALLY REALLY REALLY want to see this film in theaters.
THIS MOVIE IS TOO IMPORTANT TO HORROR FANS TO LET IT GO STRAIGHT TO DVD!!!
Post this message everywhere you can on horror websites and spread the word ASAP! We need to start a movement FAST to have an effect!!!
long live the meat!!!
Posted by: Meat Lover on June 24, 2008 at 18:05:43
I have started a place for those who love MMT, and would like to show their support.
myspace.com/longlivethemeat
hope to see you there!
Meat
Posted by: undeadNdenver on August 1, 2008 at 15:01:38
Midnight Meat Train would have been a great porn title...
Posted by: rbk on January 10, 2009 at 13:18:49
Step away from the meat...
Posted by: AcidMike on August 11, 2009 at 05:03:37
Stupid tacky story, boring gore over the top and 100% pathetic.
Watching myself wank in the mirror is more thrilling than this tripe of a movie!
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