If memory serves me correctly, 1985 was a pretty lousy year for me, but I did get to see Runaway Train at the movies and that made up for a lot. This surprise hit about two convicts who bust out of a maximum security prison in the middle of a massive winter storm and wind up aboard the titular transport chased by a very determined warden, manged to nab Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations for John Voight and Eric Roberts respectively.

Director Andrei Konchalovsky, adapting a never-produced screenplay by Akira Kurosawa, made a powerful action movie that was thought-provoking, intensely striking in every aspect and still a wild ride of a viewing experience. You’ll truly feel the freezing cold environment presented in the film from beginning to end, so break out a nice warm blanket and curl up on the couch – it’s going to be a hell of a ride…

Voight is spellbinding as his hardened criminal Manny, set free by court order from three years in his cell with the doors welded shut (!), vows to escape from the hellhole that is Stonehaven Maximum Security Prison and indeed does just that. Roberts’ not too bright character, Buck decides he wants out as well, but Manny isn’t exactly happy about this change in plans. He gives in, if only to hopefully ditch Buck in the freezing cold at some point because he knows the kid has zero chance of surviving the long trek to freedom. Buck somehow manages to keep up through the nasty process that goes into their breakout (it’s a pretty amazing sequence) and eventually, the pair make their way to a rail yard and hop aboard a four-engine setup hoping for a nice quiet ride far away from Stonehaven’s cold clutches.

Given the film’s title, you know something has to get that train to do its thing and yup, the engineer keels over from a heart attack, but not before setting up conditions that will burn out the brakes on all the locomotives as the train gathers speed. Manny and Buck think they’re safe until they discover the train isn’t stopping (oops!) and they soon encounter a formerly napping and now panicked railroad employee (a nearly unrecognizable Rebecca DeMornay) who helps the convicts realize they’re all in huge trouble.

When Manny and Buck find out they’re on a fast train to disaster, their attempts to slow or stop the train make for some very suspenseful minutes (and some great, terrifying stunt work). Meanwhile, the railroad dispatcher who initially though the runaway was unoccupied, has to deal with choosing between sending the three people on it to their deaths or saving many more from a explosion and major spill that will occur should the train continue on its not so merry way and crash into a chemical plant.

Toss in the great character actor John P. Ryan as the relentless Warden Ranken who ends up coming after the convicts in a chopper, more incredible action sequences (no CG trains here!) and a surprisingly effective ending featuring a great final shot of a defiant Manny, freed from his demons and you’ve got a film that will stick in your head long after the credits roll. I say watch this on a double feature with another awesome train-related flick (but not Unstoppable, kids). Go for the incredible Emperor of the North Pole just to contrast the anti-authority thing going on in both films as well as check out that great and brutal fight scene between Lee Marvin’s traveling bum with a grudge (and a hard left hook) and Ernest Borgnine’s hammer-throwing conductor from hell.