Horror Express (1972) Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Alberto de Mendoza, Telly Savalas Movie Review

Horror Express (1972)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in Horror Express (1972)

Monster on the Trans-Siberian Express

Whilst exploring a frozen region of Manchuria, English anthropologist Prof. Sir Alexander Saxton (Christopher Lee) discovers a creature frozen in time and believes it to be some sort of missing link. With plans to examine his findings back in his own laboratory he sets about transporting it on the trans-Siberian express, with help from Doctor Wells (Peter Cushing) when he runs in to difficulty at the station. But the worse difficulties are yet to come when on the journey he is findings thaw out and passengers end up being slew.

As someone raised on the movies of the 80s I have some fond memories of them and the first time I came across someone a couple of decades younger questioning what was so great about them I was shocked. But the thing is that I am just as bad when it comes to the horror movies of the early 70s as whilst there are those who are fans of these movies I struggle to really get what is so great about them. It is the same with "Horror Express", which was released in the year of my birth, as whilst I kind of like the idea the actual movie leaves me frequently distracted.

Now as I said I like the storyline of a monster frozen in time being transported only for it to thaw out and cause several deaths, making its victims bleed from their eyes. I also like the mystery surrounding the creature with a mad monk being a doom monger when it comes to the transportation of this beast and there are other curious characters who add to the mystery. But for me the whole thing feels like a cheaply made horror movie, using a train set from another movie and a lot of static cameras which fail to bring the horror and atmosphere to life.

In truth "Horror Express" feels like a Spaghetti horror, as in made in Spain, which is heavily reliant on the main stars to entertain. And in fairness both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing deliver a typically professional performance but the characters they play are less than enthralling.

What this all boils down to is that if you grew up watching these early 70s horror movies than "Horror Express" might still entertain but encountering all these years later for the first time I find myself asking what makes it better than just okay and frankly I can't come up with anything.


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