Before starting this review I would like to point out that I have not read the source material from which the movie was adapted. I had no bias going into this movie and I have based my opinion on the story solely from watching the film.
The Girl On The Train was a mostly enjoyable thriller that was hindered by its unlikeable lead and predictable story. The movie focuses on three women; Rachel, Megan and Anna. Rachel is an alcoholic mess who is obsessed with her ex-husband, Tom, who left Rachel for Anna. Anna is Toms new wife. Megan is Annas babysitter and the object of another one of Rachels mild obsessions. Rachel rides the trains past Anna and Megan's house every day where she fantasizes about Megan's "perfect" relationship. This was one of the most interesting elements of the movie and actually enticed me within the first few minutes - I adored the concept of exploring the way people daydream about strangers while creating narratives in their mind because seeing the perfect fantasy clash with the harsh reality was truly fascinating. This interesting element of the movie, however, does not last very long as Rachel quickly finds out that her fantasy is not reality when she sees Megan cheating on her husband. A distraught Rachel gets off of the train to confront her - the very same night that Megan goes missing and is presumed dead. This is where the movies faults begin to show.
The Girl On The Train is never able to fully immerse you in its mystery which is due, in part, to some very clunky and disorienting editing which leaves us asking 'What happened?' but not in the way that director Tate Taylor intended. I believe the intention of this editing was to make us feel like Rachel, she couldn't remember her night and thanks to the editing neither can we. However, this causes the movie to lose some of its sense of mystery because the fact that we don't know what Rachel did that night means that the movie can just make it up as it goes along. We know that Rachel confronted Megan and then in the morning Rachel woke up covered in blood. Had we seen portions of what happened in between those two events then we could have had pieces of a puzzle; memories that would fall into place as Rachel regained her memory instead we have a blank slate in which anything could have happened. You never feel like you are solving a mystery but merely watching a mystery unfold which removes one of the most fun elements of mystery stories - the element of figuring out who did it using the clues you are given. Don't get me wrong you will most likely figure out who the killer is way before it is revealed but that is just due to predictable writing and some not very clever foreshadowing.
Emily Blunt portrays Rachel and she clearly tries her best to convincingly appear drunk and depressed but unfortunately, she comes across as either comical or completely grating. I found myself becoming excessively annoyed with her as the movie dragged on. This is because the movie treats the seriousness of her alcoholism very schizophrenically in one scene she is unable to stand/ talk and then in the next scene she is solving a murder with ease. The movie never explores the depths of her alcoholism - we see her vow to never drink again and then later in a comical moment she accepts a drink as soon as she is offered it. We are told her alcoholism is a serious issue yet never feel that it is. Luckily, the rest of the cast delivers great performances which are enough to distract you from the unlikable lead character.
BONUS
I saw this movie with my brother. He found the movie to be amazing and he did not find it predictable at all. Which just proves that movies are interpreted differently by everyone. I urge you to see the movie and make up your own mind.
MY SCORE - 4.5/10
BROTHERS SCORE -8/10
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