Snakes on a Train
| Snakes on a Train | |
|---|---|
 DVD release cover | |
| Directed by | The Mallachi Brothers |
| Written by | Eric Forsberg |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | Julia Ruiz Giovanni Bejarano Al Galvex |
| Distributed by | The Asylum |
Release date | August 15, 2006 (US) |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,000,000 |
Snakes on a Train is an action/horror B-movie released direct to DVD by The Asylum on August 15, 2006.[1][2]
Continuing The Asylum's notoriety of capitalizing on major films with low-budget films with similar titles and plots (hence the term "mockbuster")[3], many aspects of the film are inspired by the film Snakes on a Plane which was scheduled for theatrical release three days later on August 18, 2006. However, this film contains significantly more violence and gore than its counterpart and also includes some supernatural elements.
Plot
Although taking the same basic idea from Snakes on a Plane (lots of deadly snakes loose on a claustrophobic, high speed means of transport), the background story of how the snakes end up on the train is completely different.
In the movie, writer Eric Forsberg created a woman who has been put under a Mayan curse which causes snake eggs to hatch inside her and eat their way out. In order to recover the "lost pieces" of herself (the snakes), she must travel to Los Angeles where a powerful Mayan shaman can lift the curse. She takes the snakes along with her in small jars. While on the train, bandits attack her, allowing the snakes escape and endangering the rest of the passengers.
Eventually, and inexplicably, she herself transforms into a gigantic snake and swallows the moving train whole.
But six passengers managed escape unharmed and one them performs magic to make her vanish.
Inaccuracies
While the box promises "100 Trapped Passengers - 3,000 Venomous Vipers", in reality there are only about a dozen passengers and a handful of snakes. There is also a wholly unconnected subplot regarding two female passengers smuggling drugs.
It should also be noted that the train involved consists on the inside of old 1940's streamliners, very timeworn and resembling early Amtrak trains. The train's exterior is inconsistent due to the use of stock footage: the train appears to change multiple times, ranging from a full Bombardier bilevels to an Amfleet set to a Superliner. At no time do the exteriors match the set interiors (which remain consistent throughout).
Reception
When reviewed by Variety magazine, it was described "neither undiscriminating action fans nor connoisseurs of high camp will find much bite in this latest direct-to-video product from The Asylum."[4]
Scott Foy, reviewing the film for Dread Central wrote "How the hell do you produce a rip-off this dispirited?"[5]
J.C. Maçek III of WorldsGreatestCritic.com wrote, "I'm glad I didn't watch this piece of piss before I watched Snakes on a Plane! When my wife discovered this butt-pellet on the shelf of our local Hollywood Video, I winced and said "I'll bet that's from The Asylum Home Entertainment!"[6]
Trailers
The official trailer was made available for download on The Asylum's official site. It has been televised on G4's Attack of the Show.
Cast
- Alby Castro as Brujo
- Julia Ruiz as Alma
- Amelia Jackson Gray as Crystal
- Shannon Gayle as Summer
- Giovanni Bejarano as Miguel
- Lola Forsberg as Lani
- Madeleine Falk as Nancy
- Derek Osedach as Mitch
- Stephen A.F. Day as Conductor
- Al Galvex as Julio
- Jay Costelo as Juan
- Christophe Weeks as Gok Wan
References
- ^ The Asylum
- ^ IMDb
- ^ Horror.about.com
- ^ Joe Leydon (August 18, 2006). "Snakes on a Train". Variety. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
- ^ Scott Foy. "Snakes on a Train (DVD)". Dread Central. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
- ^ J.C. Maçek III. "Snakes on a Train". WorldsGreatestCritic.com. Retrieved 2010-09-03.