By Wyatt Robb
Sports Editor
The “Girl on the Train” rode straight on into the box office, grossing $24.7 million in its first weekend.
The movie, directed by Tate Taylor, delivers a magnificently connected plot, strong lead actors, and punchy dialogue. As a psychological thriller, each aspect of the movie does a good job keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. However, the film’s gore and overall darkness are somewhat off-putting.
The story takes place in a suburb outside of New York City. Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) rides the train past a row of houses on her way to and from work each day. As the story progresses, it is revealed that Rachel once lived in one of the houses with her ex-husband Tom Watson (Justin Theroux).
Things seem to be spiraling out of control for Rachel and soon the police start investigating her for the disappearance of her ex-husband’s neighbor, Megan Hipwell (Haley Bennett.) In order to prove her own innocence, Rachel begins prying into the lives of the people who live near the train tracks. What she discovers allows her to save the life of someone she never thought she would.
What makes this film so consuming is its exceptional plot. The movie was based off the bestselling book by Paula Hawkins. For this reason, the plot is far more developed than most thrillers. The storyline is not chronological, it is instead broken up into days, with flashbacks mixed throughout. This makes each part of the story more intriguing.
The movie is a thriller in the truest sense of the word. The plot is anything but predictable. Just as the viewer thinks they understand what is going on, the movie changes directions. The unexpected turnaround at the end of the film makes for an astounding story.
The cast is not extremely well known, but this aspect adds to the film’s overall mystique. The characters are dynamic, and they even evoke the trust of the viewer at many points. Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) is an example of a character whose growth throughout the movie changes the viewer’s perspective about her.
Strong dialogue is an integral part of any great movie, and “Girl on the Train” is no exception. Characters deliver smart, witty, and realistic lines that further the overall plot. The screenplay, written by Erin Cressida Wilson, is truly one of the movie’s best features.
Despite its positive attributes, the film has one outstandingly negative aspect. The darkness about the film is often overwhelming. Many scenes are reminiscent of those that would be found in a horror movie, depicting murder, violence, and extreme gore. Some may find these scenes to be too graphic and, overall, disturbing.
Altogether, “Girl on the Train” proves to be worth watching with its incorporation of strong acting performances, an unpredictable plot, and impressively witty dialogue.
“Girl on the Train” is rated R and was released in theaters nationwide on October 7. Click here to buy movie tickets.
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