Horror Express

I didn't expect a reinterpretation of the novella "Who Goes There?". As it turns out, I enjoyed watching how that book was translated into the story beats of this movie as it progressed. This was pretty corny early on but becomes much more enjoyable once the characters played by the always fun Cushing and Lee settle in. They play a doctor and a scientist and I liked seeing Cushing in a more relaxed role. Lee's character is more of an obsessed jerk but he gets easier to like. And I know it's not really acceptable to mention anymore but Silvia Tortosa plays a beautiful and whip-smart Countess. Alberto de Mendoza also shines as an easily swayed monk. Things get a little claustrophobic as this whole movie takes place on a train. I was constantly wondering just how the monster would stay out of site in such an environment, but if you know the story of "Who Goes There?" or other takes on the story like "John Carpenter's The Thing" or Howard Hawks "The Thing From Another World", you'll understand how.

Like finding pictures of your parents as teenagers on Halloween: it's not the horror that makes you laugh, it's the cringe. This 1970s horror film is the kind of bad you want to watch with your friends when you're high to make fun of. It's a double scoop of Christopher Lee / Peter Cushing kitsch, with a Telly Savalas on top.