Spoilers will take a cab.

We are going way, way back in time for this one. I missed this feature way back in 2008, which might have been one of my first Fantasia Festivals as a moviegoer. Now, I am not going to sugar-coat this: there will be blood and guts and lots of it. It does have a very straight forward story, and well-executed but if you have a weak stomach please skip this one. This feature was a definite lock for Fantasia and I’m sure it was a late night screening. I can guess the joyous reactions when the blood starts flowing.

(Credit: Lionsgate)

The Midnight Meat Train (2008) is directed by Ryuhei Kitamura and written by Jeff Buhler based on a short story by Clive Barker. Struggling photographer Leon (Bradley Cooper) and his girlfriend Maya (Leslie Bibb) are making ends meet while Leon tries to hit the big time. He gets his big break landing an interview with gallery owner Susan Hoff (Brooke Shields), who tells him he needs to aim for riskier urban material. Following that advise, Leon ends up at a subway station late at night and manages to capture shots of some thugs harassing a woman. The thugs take off and the woman manages to take the next train, but the next morning Leon learns she’s missing in the paper.

Although the cops seem not interested in the pictures, Leon gets praise and further encouragement from Susan. Leon is excited to go back out there, but he soon becomes obsessed when he runs into a suspicious butcher called Mahogany (Vinnie Jones). Watching Mahogany “go to work” on the unsuspecting riders of the last train is a bloodfest, so the movie lives up to its title. This is going to be gore galore.

Surprisingly, this is not a film that drags on unnecessarily and it does have a destination. There’s a couple of lulls as we wait for the cast to catch up to what the audience already knows, but nothing too long. The performances of the main cast are decent, with Vinnie Jones playing his trademark stoic badass as Mahogany. Of course, you have to wonder how did he manage to not get a drop of blood on his suit, but if you can ignore that little detail the finale should be easy enough to digest.

Strongly recommended for fans of gory horror. Yes, this would have been a bloodfest and a lot of cheering with a Fantasia audience. Clocking in at an hour and a half, it does not overstay its welcome at all. Worth a watch for gore enthusiasts everywhere.

That will do for now.