THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

Based on the bestselling book by Paula Hawkins, The Girl On The Train is true to the original novel with one glaring difference – the film is set in the US, whereas the book was set in the UK. Aficionados of the story will be disappointed, as so much of the atmosphere in the novel came from the location.

Emily Blunt is very much the star of this film, and her portrayal of Rachel – a drunken, out of control divorcee who is obsessed with her ex-husband and their new family – is entirely believable. In fact, those who doubted Emily Blunt could carry off such an unlikeable car-crash of a character will be proved very, very wrong. Rachel is so unreliable that the audience is left thinking she did it, it’s all her fault, and why on earth doesn’t she just pull herself together?

But, as with all good stories, there is a twist, and a huge one at that. Rachel’s dual obsessions with her ex-husband and her ex-neighbour Megan, whose houses she passes on the train every day, result in unexpected actions and consequences. A thrilling film, but one which ultimately lacked lustre for this committed fan of the original novel. (LS)

★★★

BY LISA SELTZER