‘The Girl On The Train’ Early Buzz: Emily Blunt’s Thriller Draws Mixed Reactions
Tate Taylororiginally appeared like an odd pick to direct the adaptation ofPaula Hawkins’The Girl on the Train, an exciting, brutal, and sometimes darkly funny page-turner. Taylor, who’s best known for directingThe HelpandGet on Up, hasn’t directed a thriller before. Based on some of the early reviews, the filmmaker doesn’t always fare well with Hawkins' mystery, despite a committed and often chilling performance fromEmily Blunt.
Below, readThe Girl on the Trainearly buzz.
There’s no shortage of comparisons toDavid Fincher’sGone Girladaptation in these reviews.The Girl on the Trainand Fincher’s film share superficial similarities, but not much more than that. They’re different stories, for a plethora of reasons. But one thing is for sure: critics aren’t as taken withThe Girl on the TrainasGone Girl. So far, Taylor and screenwriterErin Cressida Wilson’s (Secretary) adaptation of Hawkins' novel is splitting critics:
Entertainment Weekly:
Indiewire:
The Hollywood Reporter:
The Girl on the Trainis enjoyable, but it’s not as thrilling or as nuanced as its source material. In condensing in Hawkins' story, some characters aren’t as real as they are on the page. What’s exciting about the novel is, the personal conflicts keep you turning page after page, not the central mystery. In this two-hour thriller, the drama isn’t as captivating, partially because the supporting characters rarely get as much time to develop as Rachel, who remains a captivating protagonist.
Blunt is excellent in the role, often looking like death. She’s not only believable as the sad alcoholic, but she’s also sometimes even heartbreaking and terrifying (a sequence with her talking to a mirror is fantastic). Blunt doesn’t try to soften any of Rachel’s edges; she’s always sharpening them. Taylor does craft some visceral sequences (he pulls off the tricky ending),Alison Janneyplays a great new addition to this story, andDanny Elfman’s score raises the tension a little, but Blunt is what keepsThe Girl on the Trainentertaining. Her performance alone makes up for a few problems.
