Subhysteria is a GIANT sleeper hit of 2026. Not many people will get the opportunity to even hear about this movie, let alone see it. But if you’re looking for something interesting and new, look no further. This movie is a true win for the indie film industry and pulls off some quite impressive feats. The acting was superb, the direction was flawless for a movie of this scale, and the camera work makes you stay on the edge of your seat. From the train crashing, to the character arcs, all the way to the soap opera feel as the movie goes on, this film is quite a great achievement.
The train crash sequence towards the beginning was very impressive and showcased the talent of the crew. It felt real, and that is perhaps what this movie is all about. The story could have happened in real life. The beginning scene of the film showcases the giant size of New York City, while making it a small-scale film as we get further into the story. Not an easy challenge to pull off. New York City itself is almost a character in this movie. Though, once the characters are trapped, we are left wondering what in the world is going on that makes the rescue of the cast of characters take so long. A favorite part of mine of this movie is the filmmaker’s use of flashbacks to show us where everyone came from and what they were doing before they got on a life-changing train ride.
There are technically two main characters at the beginning of the film. It begins with a couple of women who are pondering if they want kids. Before we find out much about them, we see one of the two bring a puppy she adopted to the other. The woman receiving the puppy is not very happy about this surprise. They spend most of the first act mad at one another.
We are shown during their character arcs that, if they are ever to make it off this train, they will probably be closer than ever. Though, the woman who buys the puppy is turning to the bottle to cure her stress, despite the fact that they were on their way to couple’s therapy. So, their problems with each other will probably never fully go away. Everyone else on the train has problems of their own. Especially one man, who is a hardcore Christian. Or, so he seems. He warns a lady that she should not take the Lord’s name in vain. This is probably the nicest he acts while on screen in this movie.
This man of the faith (which as the film progresses, we see this as ironic) goes through probably the most flooring arc in the movie. And, without giving anything away, I would argue that he is given the most material to work with as an actor. While no hero, he steals the show. There is also a recently married couple whose relationship is put to the test. The actors did a great job of showing us that while we do not know them, we can see their relationship was never perfect.
There are real stakes in this movie. Sure, there are characters who keep the peace, but there are also some who would rather stir the pot and invite in their own personal demons. Being trapped for several hours in a small space with several people, not knowing if and when you will be saved really changes people. Or, perhaps, it shows their true colors. That is one of the fun parts of the movie. Wondering who these people were before they got on the train. Were they good people? Did they act this way before? A part that I thought was really smart was the fact that most of the group on the train bands together and collect their food and drinks so they do not starve. These little touches of detail give this film a sense of realism. While it might not seem like much, it is necessary to give this movie touches of the real world to keep the audience engaged and feeling like there are real stakes at hand.
It was kind of funny that the use of alcohol becomes a big plot point in this movie. The woman with a drinking problem shares hers. But the man who preaches the Bible refuses to share his. I will not spoil it, but it leads to some real drama happening. Once this part of the film happens, there is really no going. By then, it becomes life or death for everyone on that train.
This film is mostly great, but not without a few flaws. I would personally say that the color pallet of the flashbacks and even some shots on the train is a bit jarring and an odd choice. It felt less like color correction and more of a filter that was thrown over the clips in the edit. The creatives behind this movie were probably trying to go for a more stylish feel. It just does not work. It is kind of an ugly look. It does not ruin this film, because there are so many positives to rave about. But it certainly keeps this from being four stars.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
While this will not go down as my favorite movie of the year, I absolutely loved these juicy storylines that make the movie feel like a soap opera. In fact, soap operas really do not use many locations. So, it would not surprise me if this film was inspired by daytime television. Hardcore movie fans that could not care less about the budget of a movie, and/or love indies in general will be very entertained by Subhysteria. These are the type of movies that make me enjoy my life as a film critic.
