Directed by Jack Shanks, “Man on a Train” clocks in at four-and-a-half minutes without a single wasted second.
What I loved is the complete lack of depth or backstory. A woman (Tameka Mortimer) takes a seat on a train. It’s a mundane daily routine and no further explanation is required. She takes in the faces of her fellow passengers. Eavesdropping on a conversation between two girls and a man on a phone.
Mortimer doesn’t have a single line, and yet perfectly conveys a range of emotions. She’s a regular person and it’s a regular day. We can relate with the emotionless charge of a commuter passenger. Mortimer’s demeanor quickly adjusts as the voices of her fellow riders ominously fade away and she finds herself alone.
Maybe.
“Man on a Train” isn’t breaking any barriers. Its quick and simple horror that works.
“Man on a Train” is available to watch on YouTube.
