The film adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel by the same name revolves around Rachel, an alcoholic divorcee, who finds solace in the ‘perfect couple’ – Megan and Scott.
She catches their glimpses daily from the window of her train. However, things are not always what they seem. Megan’s mysterious disappearance forces Rachel to confront her personal struggles and inner demons.
Belonging to the ‘Gone Girl’ zone, where almost every character is deceitful, self-destructive and delusional, this psychological thriller is clearly not everyone’s cup of tea. Watching Rachel grappling with her insecurities and unstable mind constantly is a mighty depressing experience. Her insanity and struggle to find a sense of worth and purpose in her miserable life is devastating even for you as a viewer. You watch her, the way she watches other people on her daily commute and it sends shivers down your spine.
With a few alterations for the screen, Tate Taylor makes you feel exactly what the book intends but given the limitations of his medium, the impact is relatively low. Grim, unpredictable and atmospheric, Taylor sets the mood of his film perfectly but struggles to maintain the tension. His film gets dreary by the time the mystery unfolds, unlike its predecessor, which makes you hold you nerve throughout. Given the multiple characters involved here and their stories intertwined in one, the execution seems a tad hurried as well.
The casting is near perfect with Emily Blunt being a total revelation. She does justice to her layered, messed up character and evokes sympathy in spite of depicting an enormously flawed role. Other actors lend valuable support as well.
If you like morbid whodunit thrillers that make you feel like you are trapped in a dark room with no glimmer of hope whatsoever; this brutal, twisted and voyeuristic tale is bound to leave you gasping for breath.