Synopsis:
Midnight Meat Train' was a solid horror film starring Bradley Cooper and Vinnie Jones that had a novel premise and some terrifying moments along with an entertaining story that avoided the many cliches and pitfalls of many run-of-the-mill horror films today. It was original, fresh and very bloody. However, some fans were not satisfied with the overly occult ending and wonder what it would have been like if Meat Train was a straight-up slasher. With this edit, the film is recut into a solid slasher/splatter/psychological thriller with an alternate ending.
Intentions:
This is Ryuhei Kitamura and Clive Barker's excellent 'Midnight Meat Train' with Bradley Cooper and 'Bullet Tooth' Vinnie Jones recut as a slasher. I focused on creating the most effective and interesting movie possible while avoiding the occult horror elements of the original. I'm quite happy with the final product! Midnight Slaughter Train is now a straight up slasher/splatter/psychological thriller with a new ending. It would be great to see what someone who had not seen the original think if he/she watches this before the original!
Change List:
- Replaced opening title cards to appear grittier and with gate weave
- Resynced off-sync slashing noises during prologue murder sequence
- Retitled film Midnight Slaughter Train, overlaid new 'bashing' and splatter sounds, added gate weave and grindhouse-like effect to main title
- Ted Raimi's death re-edited to make it more realistic (the slow motion eye-pop timing adjusted)
- Shortened sequence of Bradley Cooper stalking Mahogany (Vinnie Jones), trimmed for pacing
- Slight trim to Mahogany seeing the midnight meat train arrive (as this footage would be used in its entirety again later on)
- New ending to the Mahogany-Afro ninja fight as the conductor character is completely removed in this cut. Mahogany does not require assistance in this version, no "I'm disappointed in you" line.
- Removed the '1895' year from the newspaper Cooper is examining by blurring and cropping
- By using pans and rotation, recreated the overhead zoom-out shot of Cooper on the floor with the newspaper clippings, again to remove the visible '1895' year in the original
- Recut and reordered dialogue in scene when Cooper talks to his wife (Maya) to remove all references to "murders over a century ago" etc, so that it is now referring to abductions only several years prior
- Cut scene of Cooper reconciling with Maya in the diner and Mahogany stalking Cooper (for pacing)
- Cut scene of creature frightening bound Cooper. In this version, Cooper wakes up in the meat factory after Mahogany knocks him out in the train, implying that Mahogany himself had carved the occult symbol on Cooper's chest
- Cut Maya asking Jurgis to wait outside at Mahogany's apartment
- Cut Jurgis jump scare
- Cut Cooper in bathtub (rearranged to occur later)
- Cut Maya digging through Mahogany's bag to find century-old train schedules
- Cut Cooper at art gallery (for pacing)
- Cut two shots of conductor while Maya on train
- Cut the conductor meeting Cooper and Maya at the underground station
- Cut the creatures
- Cut Mahogany's line "Welcome"
- Cut the conductor's confrontation with Cooper
- Added Cooper's bathtub scene here, after the Mahogany fight
- Created alternate ending which fits the psychological horror/obsesssive tone of the original and utilizes the original build-up.
- Added acknowledgement card after credits
Additional Notes:
- Removed the conductor character from the film
- Mr Mahogany has no dialogue at all in this version
- Removed all references to the 100 year old cult and butcher
- Removed the whole police conspiracy
- Removed the subway creatures
- Created new alternate ending more in line with the tone of the movie
Other Sources:
Adobe Premiere Pro - Removed the conductor character from the film - Mr Mahogany has no dialogue at all in this version - Removed all references to the 100 year old cult and butcher - Removed the whole police conspiracy - Removed the subway creatures - Created new alternate ending more in line with the tone of the movie.
Special Thanks:
JJE-187, for the original idea to make this a slasher, as well as the excellent cover art.