Snakes on a Train
Encyclopedia
Snakes on a Train is an action/horror Z movie
released direct to DVD
by The Asylum
on August 15, 2006.
Continuing The Asylum
's notoriety of capitalizing on major films with low-budget films with similar titles and plots (hence the term "mockbuster
"), many 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. However, this film contains significantly more violence and gore than its counterpart and also includes some supernatural elements. It also much slower paced and less chaotic than Snakes on a Plane
.
(lots of deadly snakes loose on a claustrophobic
, high speed means of transport), the background story of how the snakes end up on the train is completely different.
In the movie, writer Eric Forsberg
created a woman who has been put under a Maya
n curse which causes snake eggs to hatch inside her 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 and endanger the rest of the passengers.
Eventually, and inexplicably, she herself transforms into a gigantic snake and swallows the moving train whole.
But six passengers managed to escape unharmed and one of them performs magic to make her vanish.
, 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.
regarding two female passengers smuggling drugs.
It should also be noted that the train involved consists on the inside of old 1940's streamliner
s, very timeworn and resembling early Amtrak
trains. The train's exterior is inconsistent due to the use of stock footage: the train appears to change multiple times, ranging from a full Bombardier bilevel
s to an Amfleet
set to a Superliner
. At no time do the exteriors match the set interiors (which remain consistent throughout).
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."
Scott Foy, reviewing the film for Dread Central wrote "How the hell do you produce a rip-off this dispirited?"
J.C. Maçek III of WorldsGreatestCritic.com wrote, "I'm glad I didn't watch this piece of piss before I watched Snakes on a Plane
! When my wife discovered this butt-pellet on the shelf of our local Whoreywood Video, I winced and said "I'll bet that's from The Asylum
Home Entertainment!"
's Attack of the Show.
Z movie
The term Z movie arose in the mid-1960s as an informal description of certain unequivocally non-A films. It was soon adopted to characterize low-budget pictures with quality standards well below those of most B movies and even so-called C movies...
released direct to DVD
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
by The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
on August 15, 2006.
Continuing The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
's notoriety of capitalizing on major films with low-budget films with similar titles and plots (hence the term "mockbuster
Mockbuster
A mockbuster is a film created with the apparent intention of piggy-backing on the publicity of a major film with a similar title or theme and are often made with a low budget. Often these films are created to be released direct-to-video at the same time as the mainstream film reaches theaters or...
"), many aspects of the film are inspired by the film Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
which was scheduled for theatrical release three days later on August 18, 2006. However, this film contains significantly more violence and gore than its counterpart and also includes some supernatural elements. It also much slower paced and less chaotic than Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
.
Plot
Although taking the same basic idea from Snakes on a PlaneSnakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
(lots of deadly snakes loose on a claustrophobic
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms...
, high speed means of transport), the background story of how the snakes end up on the train is completely different.
In the movie, writer Eric Forsberg
Eric Forsberg
Eric Forsberg is the writer and director of the feature film Mega Piranha, as well as the writer of the feature film Snakes on a Train, a mockbuster produced and released by The Asylum. He also wrote the screenplays for 30,000 Leagues Under the Sea and War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave, also for...
created a woman who has been put under a Maya
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
n curse which causes snake eggs to hatch inside her and eat their way out. In order to recover the "lost pieces" of herself (the snakes), she must travel to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
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 and endanger the rest of the passengers.
Eventually, and inexplicably, she herself transforms into a gigantic snake and swallows the moving train whole.
But six passengers managed to escape unharmed and one of them performs magic to make her vanish.
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 CannesCannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, 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.
Inaccuracies
While the box promises "100 Trapped Passengers - 3,000 Venomous Vipers", in reality there are only about a dozen passengers and a small handful of snakes shown in the film. There is also a wholly unconnected subplotSubplot
A subplot is a secondary plot strand that is a supporting side story for any story or the main plot. Subplots may connect to main plots, in either time and place or in thematic significance...
regarding two female passengers smuggling drugs.
It should also be noted that the train involved consists on the inside of old 1940's streamliner
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
s, very timeworn and resembling early Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
trains. The train's exterior is inconsistent due to the use of stock footage: the train appears to change multiple times, ranging from a full Bombardier bilevel
Bombardier BiLevel Coach
Bombardier BiLevel coaches are bilevel passenger cars designed to carry up to 360 passengers for regional railways. These carriages are easily identifiable; they are double-decked and are shaped like elongated octagons.-History:...
s to an Amfleet
Amfleet
Amfleet is a series of intercity railroad passenger cars built for the operator Amtrak by the manufacturer Budd Company in two series during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Today, Amfleet cars are used extensively throughout the Amtrak system outside the western United States...
set to a Superliner
Superliner (railcar)
The Superliner is a double decker passenger car used by Amtrak on long haul trains that do not use the Northeast Corridor. The initial cars were built by Pullman-Standard in the late 1970s and a second order was built in the mid 1990s by Bombardier Transportation...
. At no time do the exteriors match the set interiors (which remain consistent throughout).
Reception
When reviewed by VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
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."
Scott Foy, reviewing the film for Dread Central wrote "How the hell do you produce a rip-off this dispirited?"
J.C. Maçek III of WorldsGreatestCritic.com wrote, "I'm glad I didn't watch this piece of piss before I watched Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
! When my wife discovered this butt-pellet on the shelf of our local Whoreywood Video, I winced and said "I'll bet that's from The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
Home Entertainment!"
Trailers
The official trailer was made available for download on The Asylum's official site. It has been televised on G4G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
's Attack of the Show.
Cast
- Alby Castro as Brujo
- Julia Ruiz as Alma
- Amelia Jackson Gray as Crystal
- Shannon Gayle as Summer
- Giovanni Bejarano as Miguel
- Lola ForsbergLola Forsberg-Biography:Lola Forsberg was born in Santa Monica, California on February 1, 1999. Her mother is stage director and film producer, Karen Goodman Forsberg and her father is filmmaker Eric Forsberg. Lola Forsberg's first feature film was as the baby in Christopher Coppola's Bel Air, shot in 2000...
as Lani - 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
- Christophe Weeks as Gok Wan