by: Anthony Zangrillo
The acclaimed novel has been successfully turned into a film that manages to maintain the pulsating thrills and intriguing mystery written on the page. Emily Blunt gives a breathtaking performance that walks the line of addiction, insanity, and clarity. Blunt’s ability to convey this complex character emphasizes her great acting abilities. Furthermore, the cast of supporting characters hold their own in scenes that force their portrayals to twist and turn with the unfolding mystery.
Devastated by her recent divorce, Rachel (Emily Blunt) spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day, until one morning she sees something shocking happen and becomes entangled in the ensuing mystery. Director Tate Taylor has made a fantastic adaptation. The first couple of scenes appear to establish a hum drum film about a nosy commuter dealing with a multitude of burdens. As the film advances, the truth behind the normal auspices begin to unravel. Blunt takes audiences on the highs and lows of Rachel’s life. Smartly placed flashbacks will keep audiences guessing as to the divide between truth and fantasy. This technique has a wonderful revelatory effect upon reaching the climax, matching the book’s method of disclosure. Furthermore, Danny Elfman’s score is great for establishing and propelling the mysterious tone.
The film masterfully handles sensitive topics, including alcoholism, infidelity, and overall unhealthy relationships. Similar to the book, the movie tackles these adult issues in a dynamic fashion. The lurking addiction to alcohol dominates many of Rachel’s scenes. This affliction informs many of the character’s actions, and Taylor provides a primal and visceral view of Rachel’s sense-of-mind. Lies, cheating, and jealousy lie at the heart of every conflict within the film. Without spoiling any of the surprises within the film, the actor/actress at the center of the big reveal is phenomenal.
A surprising stand-out is Luke Evans as Scott. The portrayal of this character dives deep into emotionally abusive relationships. While hopeless romantics may so deeply care for one another that they lose themselves to each other, this behavior is unhealthy and dangerous. Obsessing over texts and emails in a possessive manner creates psychological trauma and pain. Luke Evans nails this obsessive, erratic mindset. Evans and Blunt share tense scenes that could have equal chances of ending in discovery or disaster.
A possible negative is Director Taylor’s chaotic approach to important scenes that slightly takes away from the overall narrative. The key scene of the film is given too many clues that both elucidate and mislead viewers. I would have preferred to be left a little more in the dark, keeping the scene totally out of view until the eventual reveal. Still, the scene is visually striking and should increase the audience’s intrigue.
Overall, The Girl on the Train is a fantastic film that allows Emily Blunt to flex a wide array of emotions. As the film unfolds, audiences will be ensnared into the mesmerizing story backed by strong performances.
Score: 8.5/10
