Watch Transsiberian

"Transsiberian" is a 2008 thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and starring Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, and Kate Mara. The movie is set in Russia and follows an American couple, Roy (Harrelson) and Jessie (Mortimer), who decide to take the Trans-Siberian Railway from China to Moscow as a romantic vacation. However, their journey takes a dark turn when they meet a mysterious couple, Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) and Abby (Mara), on the train. Carlos is a Spanish drug dealer, while Abby is his American girlfriend. Roy and Jessie quickly befriend the pair, but as the train crosses the harsh Siberian landscape, it becomes clear that Carlos and Abby have a potential ulterior motive. A tense game of cat and mouse ensues as Roy and Jessie become increasingly enmeshed in their new friends’ web of deceit.

Throughout the movie, Roy and Jessie find themselves drawn into dangerous situations as they navigate their way through a world that is both foreign and unforgiving. Along the way, they encounter several other characters who further complicate their journey, including a corrupt Russian police officer (Kingsley) who seems to be stalking them.

"Transsiberian" is a taught and suspenseful thriller that expertly blends the elements of the travelogue genre with those of the crime film. The harsh and beautiful Siberian landscape provides a picturesque backdrop for the tense and dangerous situations that the characters find themselves in. The train itself becomes a character in its own right, acting both as a symbol of the journey and as a source of constant tension and danger.

Harrelson and Mortimer deliver excellent performances as Roy and Jessie, respectively. Their characters are well-rounded and relatable, and the chemistry between them feels authentic and believable. Similarly, Kingsley delivers a haunting and nuanced performance as the Russian police officer Grinko, who is both a villain and a victim of the corrupt society he operates within.

In terms of style, "Transsiberian" has a gritty and realistic feel. The cinematography is beautiful without being overly stylized, and the movie's score is both haunting and fitting. The editing is crisp and efficient, with a strong sense of pacing that keeps the tension high throughout.

Overall, "Transsiberian" is a well-crafted and engaging thriller that offers a fresh take on both the crime and travelogue genres. Its strong performances, stunning visuals, and unrelenting tension make it a must-see for fans of the genre, and a strong recommendation for anyone looking for a good suspenseful movie.

Transsiberian is a 2008 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 72.