A 2008 psychological thriller directed by Brad Anderson that has a train journey from China to Moscow there an American couple (Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer) becoming a fight for survival when they encounter a pair of mystery travelers (Ben Kingsley and Kate Mara).
The movie also stars Eduardo Noriega, Thomas Kretschmann, Etienne Chicot, Mac McDonald, Colin Stinton, and Mindaugas Papinigis.
It was released on January 18, 2008.
Tropes for the film:
- Cold-Blooded Torture: Seen in the movie. Kolzak is a thug connected to a Russian drug-dealer, looking for information on one of their smugglers who stole a bunch of drugs and money from them. Near the climax of the film, he tortures the girlfriend, Abby, of the drug-runner, Carlos, but he legitimately doesn't know where her boyfriend is. The scene and the after effects are particularly gruesome.
- Cool Train: Roy marvels over some antique Russian trains.
- Deadly Road Trip: Roy and Jessie are going through Siberia on a train which itself is a Closed Circle, but above that they frequently make stops in locations that are also closed circles. All of which frames the lies and smuggling and seemingly corrupt police who are growing more and more suspicious of the seemingly innocent protagonists.
- One-Word Title: Transsiberian.
- Rail Enthusiast: Roy. He's the reason the couple are traveling by train in the first place.
- Tagline: "Arrive on time".
- Torture Always Works: Subverted. Kolzak tortures Abby to find out where her boyfriend Carlos is. She legitimately doesn't know, however. He then tortures her in front of her acquaintances, Roy and Jessie, thinking that seeing Abby in agony will cause one of them to talk. Jessie, who knows exactly where Carlos is dead, by her hand, is visibly disturbed during the scene. She breaks down, seems as though she going to crack, and then lies again. Badly.
