Original Release: 1985

Grade: 10/10

The white desert of Alaska has never looked better against the backdrop of this action thriller. The story follows Buck (Eric Roberts) and Manny (Jon Voight), two prisoners who escape from the Stonehaven maximum security prison and board a train to escape capture. When the train engineer suffers a heart attack, the train is sent speeding through the state of Alaska, causing Buck and Manny to work with railroad worker Sara (Rebecca De Mornay) to reach the front of the train and stop it before it derails all while evading the abusive warden Ranken (John P. Ryan) who is pursuing them by helicopter. 

The film received the Best Motion Picture nomination for both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, while Voight received the Globe and Oscar nomination for Best Actor and Roberts received the Globe and Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Voight ended up walking away with the Golden Globe award, cementing the film as a must see. Among the numerous highlights of the film, the score by Trevor Jones is a standout. The music follows the tone of the film building excitement and tension during action sequences while using flutes and choral voices during heartfelt and somber moments. The score ultimately elevates the film which helped lead it to its numerous nominations. 

The film has an unusually dark tone compared to other films in the genre, with characters that are morally questionable including both escaped prisoners as well as the ruthless warden. For those who enjoy darker, down-to-earth action films, as well as films that make one think and feel deeply, Runaway Train is a must see. Runaway Train delivers tense action, talented performances, and an ending audiences don’t see coming. It is a must see for any film enthusiast.