Snakes on a Train

Snakes on a Train is a 2006 direct-to-video action thriller horror film released by The Asylum as a mockbuster on August 15, 2006.[1] Aspects of the film are inspired by the film Snakes on a Plane, which was scheduled for theatrical release three days later on August 18, 2006.

Snakes on a Train
DVD release cover
Directed byPeter Mervis (as The Mallachi Brothers)
Produced byDavid Michael Latt
David Rimawi
Written byEric Forsberg
StarringJulia Ruiz
Giovanni Bejarano
Al Galvex
Music byMel Lewis
CinematographyMark Atkins
Edited byPeter Mervis
Distributed byThe Asylum
Release date
  • August 15, 2006 (2006-08-15)
Running time
91 minutes
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,000,000

Plot

Although taking the same basic idea from Snakes on a Plane (many deadly snakes loose on a claustrophobic, high-speed means of transport), the background story of how the snakes end up on the train differs.

In the film, a woman has been put under a Mayan curse which causes snake eggs to hatch inside her belly and eat their way out. In order to recover the "lost pieces" of herself (the snakes), she must travel to Los Angeles where a powerful Mayan shaman can lift the curse. She takes the snakes along with her in small jars. While on the train, bandits attack her, allowing the snakes to escape, endangering the other passengers.

Eventually, and inexplicably, she herself transforms into a gigantic snake and swallows the moving train whole.

Six passengers manage to escape unharmed, and one of them performs a magic ritual which causes her to vanish. However, one girl is shown to have been unknowingly bitten, suggesting that the curse will remain.

Cast
  • Alby Castro as Brujo
  • Julia Ruiz as Alma
  • Giovanni Bejarano as Miguel
  • Amelia Jackson Gray as Crystal
  • Shannon Gayle as Summer
  • Lola Forsberg as Lani
  • Carolyn Meyer as Klara
  • Isaac Wade as Martin
  • Madeleine Falk as Nancy
  • Derek Osedach as Mitch
  • Stephen A.F. Day as Conductor
  • Al Galvex as Julio
  • Jay Costelo as Juan
  • Jason S. Gray as Chico
  • Sean Durrie as Dickie
  • Nick Slatkin as Raz

Production

According to co-producer David Rimawi, The Asylum initially had no intention of making the film, but they proceeded when an earlier film project fell through. While looking for international distributors at Cannes, a group of Japanese investors saw the film's poster and asked if there really was a giant snake eating a train (which was originally not part of the film). In response, Rimawi had his crew in Los Angeles add the aforementioned scene to the film to make the Japanese audiences happy.[2]

Reception

The film has received mostly negative reviews. When reviewed by Variety magazine, it was described "neither undiscriminating action fans nor connoisseurs of high camp will find much bite in this latest direct-to-video product from The Asylum."[3] Scott Foy, reviewing the film for Dread Central, asked "how the hell do you produce a rip-off this dispirited?"[4]

See also
  • List of killer snake films

References
  1. "Snakes on a Train". The Asylum.
  2. Solomon, Dan (2011-08-23). "How to Make a Mockbuster (In Five Easy Steps)". Adult Swim. Retrieved 2011-08-24. (note that the article misspelled David Rimawi's name as "Rimaldi")
  3. Leydon, Joe (August 18, 2006). "Snakes on a Train". Variety. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  4. Foy, Scott. "Snakes on a Train (DVD)". Dread Central. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
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