Review by Jon Donnis
There is no easing into the world of Speed Train. It opens with a glossy in-universe advert for the Brain Op chip, an AI implant sold as a lifestyle upgrade, and immediately signals the kind of pulpy sci-fi the film is aiming for. It is broad, blunt, and knowingly ridiculous, but it does at least establish its futuristic setting with clarity before the chaos begins.
The plot strands a mismatched group of passengers aboard a high-speed Nexus Track capsule. Among them are cheerleading coaches Tessa and Scarlet, their athletes Mary and Heather, and Gray, an INTERPOL agent travelling for painfully ordinary personal reasons. Their journey is interrupted when Lachlan hijacks the train, hacks the Brain Op implants, and turns passengers into violent puppets controlled by remote buyers. With no brakes and no way off, survival becomes the only goal.
Once the hijacking is underway, Speed Train settles into its groove. The film makes smart use of its limited resources, sticking to a handful of sets and keeping the action confined to the capsule's narrow corridors. The violence is gleefully excessive, sometimes gory, and often clumsy in a way that feels deliberate rather than incompetent. Fight choreography is rough and ready, but that scrappy energy suits the tone. The film knows exactly what it is and never pretends otherwise.
The cast are made up of faces that feel familiar without being distracting. Scout Taylor-Compton's Tessa leans heavily into the ex-military stereotype, while Nicky Whelan plays Scarlet with just enough confidence to carry the sillier moments. Oliver Masucci brings some grounding presence as Gray, even if his subplot never fully lands. Louis Mandylor's villain is pure genre excess, fuelled by revenge and scenery-chewing menace. (And yes, it is Nikos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, in case you were curious)
There are missed opportunities. The Brain Op chip is a strong concept, but its implications are barely explored beyond convenience features and mind control. Much of the early runtime is spent setting up characters who never grow beyond basic archetypes, and the focus on the restrained prisoners slows the momentum before the film truly gets moving. Performances are undeniably cheesy, and the low budget shows in almost every frame.
Still, Speed Train benefits from knowing when to stop. At around 80 minutes, it never outstays its welcome. The ending is obvious from a long way out, but that is not really the point. The appeal lies in the ride itself, watching increasingly absurd situations escalate inside a metal tube hurtling across the country.
If you have a soft spot for low-budget B-movie sci-fi, Speed Train is an easy recommendation. It is silly, rough around the edges, and frequently daft, but it has enough energy and self-awareness to make the experience enjoyable.
I score Speed Train a generous 6 out of 10
Out Now on Digital
Apple TV - https://apple.co/4s3ubaC
