The Midnight Meat Train (2008)
Ryuhei Kitamura's brutal, Clive Barker-adapted horror plunges a photographer into a subway nightmare of ancient evil and relentless carnage.
The Midnight Meat Train - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Midnight Meat Train
- Release Year: 2008
- Directed by: Ryuhei Kitamura
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Fantasy
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 43m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 7, 2008 (United States - R), August 23, 2008 (United Kingdom - 18), August 14, 2008 (Germany), July 29, 2009 (France - 16)
- Alternative Titles: O Último Trem (BR), Éjféli etetés (HU), Полуночный экспресс (RU), Il killer della metropolitana (IT), O Comboio dos Mortos (PT), Carniceria a media noche (US), Dehşet Treni (TR), Carniceria a media noche (ES)
- Production Companies: Lakeshore Entertainment, Lions Gate Films, Midnight Picture Show, GreeneStreet Films
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Midnight Meat Train - Plot
A photographer's obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of a serial killer who stalks late night commuters, ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways.
The Midnight Meat Train - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see what lurks beneath the city after dark.
The most terrifying ride you'll ever take
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The Midnight Meat Train - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Ryuhei Kitamura
Main Cast
- Bradley Cooper
- Vinnie Jones
- Brooke Shields
- Leslie Bibb
- Roger Bart
- Ted Raimi
- Peter Jacobson
- Barbara Eve Harris
- Stephanie Mace
- Tony Curran
Writers
- Jeff Buhler
Producers
- Jorge Saralegui
- Gary Lucchesi
- Clive Barker
- Eric Reid
- Tom Rosenberg
The Midnight Meat Train - FAQs
Is The Midnight Meat Train based on a true story?
No, The Midnight Meat Train isn't based on real events. It's adapted from a 1984 short story by Clive Barker, published in his celebrated Books of Blood anthology. Barker's tale blends urban horror with supernatural mythology, imagining a secret predator lurking beneath a modern city's subway system.
What is The Midnight Meat Train about?
The film follows Leon Kaufman, an ambitious photographer whose obsession with capturing the city's dark underbelly leads him to a terrifying discovery. He becomes fixated on a hulking, silent butcher named Mahogany who slaughters late-night subway passengers — and the deeper Leon digs, the more dangerous his obsession becomes.
What does the ending of The Midnight Meat Train mean?
The film's ending reveals a Lovecraftian conspiracy beneath the city — ancient creatures feed on human flesh delivered by Mahogany. Leon is forced to become the new butcher, inheriting the role. It's a bleak, mythological conclusion suggesting the city's power structure depends on this horrific, centuries-old ritual sacrifice.
Who plays the killer Mahogany in the film?
Vinnie Jones plays Mahogany, the terrifying, near-silent subway butcher at the heart of the film. Jones brings an imposing physical presence to the role, delivering a largely wordless performance that makes Mahogany one of horror cinema's more memorable and genuinely unsettling antagonists of the 2000s.
Where can you stream The Midnight Meat Train?
You can watch The Midnight Meat Train for free on Tubi TV, Plex, Hoopla, Fawesome, and The Roku Channel. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home — plenty of options to catch this cult horror gem.
Who are the main actors in The Midnight Meat Train?
Bradley Cooper leads the cast as photographer Leon Kaufman, with Vinnie Jones as the menacing killer Mahogany. The supporting cast includes Leslie Bibb, Brooke Shields, Roger Bart, Ted Raimi, Peter Jacobson, Barbara Eve Harris, Stephanie Mace, and Tony Curran.
What is the age rating for The Midnight Meat Train?
The Midnight Meat Train is rated R in the United States, and it earns that rating thoroughly. The film features extremely graphic violence, brutal on-screen killings, and intense gore throughout. It's strictly for adult horror fans comfortable with visceral, unflinching content — definitely not one for younger viewers.
Was The Midnight Meat Train a box office success?
Commercially, the film struggled significantly. Made on a $15 million budget, it earned just around $3.5 million at the box office — partly due to a limited theatrical release that frustrated fans and the filmmakers alike. Over time, however, it found a passionate cult following on home video and streaming platforms.
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