There’s something inherently exciting about claustrophobic horror, where some people are stuck in a small space and have to survive against a creature or worse - each other. Set on a moving train, Horror Express (1972) is one of the best examples of the sub-genre.
Directed by Eugenio Martín, this Spanish-British co-production offers an unusual and wonderfully original premise that completely bypasses the standard tropes of vampires, werewolves, and haunted houses. Instead, it serves up a two-million-year-old part-man, part-ape fossil from deep back in our evolutionary chain that turns out to be far from extinct.
The story kicks off aboard the Trans-Siberian Express, where anthropologist Professor Alexander Saxton (Christopher Lee) is transporting his frozen discovery back to Europe. Naturally, things go wrong almost immediately as the crate is opened and bodies start dropping with their eyes burned completely white. It quickly becomes apparent that the creature isn't just alive and well but it's lethal.
What makes Horror Express so brilliant is how it handles its threat. Even though the original creature is killed off surprisingly early on, it possesses the terrifying ability to transfer its consciousness and energy—and all the ancient, stolen knowledge it holds—into another human host. If that parasitic, body-hopping dynamic sounds familiar, it's because it feels like a clear, direct precursor to John Carpenter's 1982 classic The Thing.
Despite the modest budget, the film looks gorgeous. The vivid colours and striking cinematography by Alejandro Ulloa masterfully capture the claustrophobic, suffocating feel of a steam train hurtling through the freezing Siberian wilderness.
The acting is top-notch across the entire cast, but the real heart of the film lies in the iconic pairing of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Both legendary actors play it completely straight as men of science—erudite, learned gentlemen—rather than the occultists, mad scientists, or outright villains they were so frequently cast as during their Hammer Horror days. Their on-screen chemistry is effortless and a joy to watch.
The script is also packed with cracking one-liners. Telly Savalas turns up in the third act as a boisterous, ruthless Cossack officer who completely steals every scene he's in. But the absolute highlight of the dialogue comes during a moment of peak paranoia:
"But what if one of you is the monster?"
An aghast Cushing, without missing a beat, replies: "Monster? We're British, you know!"
The final 15 minutes of Horror Express are insanely good. As the true cosmic nature of the creature is revealed and the body count spikes, the tension escalates into pure, unadulterated madness. Chaos erupts on board, complete with resurrected eye-bleeding Cossacks, a desperate race towards a literal cliff-end, and Christopher Lee basically going full Rambo with a rifle to save the day.
Horror Express is insanely good fun and has stood the test of time remarkably well. By combining sci-fi cosmic horror with a classic Agatha Christie - style mystery setting, it stands out as one of the best, most unique old-school horror films of its era.
If you've somehow missed this one over the years, do yourself a favour: turn down the lights, get the kettle on, and jump aboard.
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