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The Girl on the Train

14 October 2016English1h 52m
Thriller
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 6 scored reviews · 2 not rated

Blunt elevates a thriller that falls short of Gone Girl's shadow.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Emily Blunt's raw performance
  • Criticised: Unfavorable comparisons to Gone Girl

Audience

User score 8.0 out of 10 from 1 rating, not enough ratings for a verdict yet
Read 1 audience review ↓

Not streaming in India

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Critic consensus

What 8 critics are saying

Critical reception for The Girl on the Train is mixed-to-moderate, with most reviewers finding it a serviceable but unspectacular thriller. Emily Blunt's performance as an alcoholic protagonist draws consistent praise, with multiple critics crediting her as the film's primary saving grace. The most common criticism is that the film invites unfavorable comparisons to Gone Girl, which several critics consider a superior exercise in the same genre. A few reviewers also feel the filmmakers fail to fully capitalize on the strength of Blunt's performance or the source material's darker thematic potential.

How the 6 scores spread

2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 8 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (8)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Emily Blunt brings such a raw, pained, mortified portrait of an alcoholic to live that it's a shame that the filmmakers fail to recognise this as essentially her story.

  2. India

    Film review ·

    For lovers of thrillers that unfold slowly, for people who don't rush for the popcorn or their mobile phone while watching a movie in a theatre, The Girl on the Train is a wonderful watch.

  3. Sify

    Film review ·

    The Girl on the Train may not be at par with the October 2014 released thriller Gone Girl, in terms of an enthralling experience, but is nevertheless exciting.

  4. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    If you like morbid whodunit thrillers that make you feel like you are trapped in a dark room with no glimmer of hope whatsoever; this brutal, twisted and voyeuristic tale is bound to leave you gasping for breath.

  5. CatchNews

    Film review ·

    Murder. Infidelity. Copious amounts of alcohol. Unreliable narrators. Just good old-fashioned tawdry entertainment. What's not to like?

  6. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    It's entirely up to Emily Blunt to save the film from becoming just another 'Gone Girl' wannabe. It's largely her well-endowed, entirely relatable performance that lends memorability to the experience while rescuing it from being just another serviceable thriller.

  7. LiveMint

    Film review ·

    As far as thrillers go, The Girl on the Train works hard to make every player seem suspicious but the result isn't as juicy or caustic as Gone Girl, a hit adaptation in roughly the same genre.

  8. Scroll.in

    Film review ·

    The Paula Hawkins bestseller about gender battles and domestic violence is reduced to a thriller, and a not very effective one at that.

From our readers

Audience reviews (1)

1 rating · user score 8.0

  1. Pranay JalviDec 2016
    8/10

    "The Girl on the Train" is grounded in the tranquil house-beautiful of the Hudson Valley suburbs. But director Tate Taylor ("The Help," "Get on Up"), while competent, is no David Fincher. "Girl on the Train" isn't likely to haunt its shivering viewers the way the "Gone Girl" movie did.Blunt,however,makes the ride well worth taking.It's an intriguing premise, and Blunt melts into the role like ice in a glass. She looks lost, ravaged by hopelessness, her voice thickening into syrup, her character a confused stumble. Blunt, in her best screen performance to date, gives it a heartbroken center. I go with 4/5 for 'The Girl on the Train' for Emily's one of the finest performance.

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