Speed Train is 86 minutes of low-budget lunacy—and somehow, against all laws of physics, filmmaking, and common sense, it actually works. This is the kind of movie that feels like it was shot in a rented warehouse, decorated with LED strip lights from Amazon, and powered entirely by the cast’s sheer determination to sell every absurd moment like they’re gunning for an Oscar in “Committed Chaos.” It moves fast, breaks things often, and never once stops to ask, “Should we?” because the answer is always, gloriously, “Absolutely—roll camera.”
Speed Train assembles a cast that’s basically the cinematic equivalent of flipping through your streaming queue and going, “Oh hey, I know them!” Nicky Whelan, Scout Taylor-Compton, Oliver Masucci, Louis Mandylor, Jade Patteri, Liana Ramirez, Karmel Bortoleti, Mike Manning, and Ryan Francis all show up ready to give this sci-fi mayhem their all—because when you’re making a futuristic action thriller on what appears to be about six dollars and the promise of craft services, enthusiasm counts.
The plot—if you can stop grinning long enough to follow it—involves a disgraced tech genius hijacking a bullet train and turning its brain-chipped passengers into what I can only describe as Bluetooth-controlled zombies. It’s the kind of “distant future” where everything is shiny neon, but also kind of wobbles if anyone leans on it too hard. You can practically hear the producers whispering, “No wide shots. Wide shots cost money.”
As expected, chaos erupts instantly. Rebels, cheerleaders, and an FBI agent are thrown together like someone randomized character classes in a video game, and now we all have to pretend this was intentional. Heavy themes of digital tyranny and AI control float around the edges, but the movie knows exactly what it is: a pulpy, low-budget thrill ride where sparks, smoke, and shouting cover a multitude of financial sins.
The standout scene—and the one that earns this movie its midnight-movie stripes—comes when the brain-chipped passengers glitch all at once, moving in synchronized, twitchy patterns down the aisle like someone mashed “dance mode” on a malfunctioning smart home system. It’s creepy, funny, and genuinely inventive. For about 45 seconds, Speed Train punches well above its budget and reminds you why low-budget sci-fi can be a blast when it swings big.
By the time the showdown hits, the train looks like it’s held together with duct tape and bad intentions, but that’s half the charm. Speed Train isn’t pretending to be prestige sci-fi. It’s here to entertain, blow up some LED-lit set pieces, and let its cast go delightfully over-the-top. If you miss the days of scrappy action movies that knew they were scrappy—and leaned into it—this one’s worth hopping aboard.
Speed Train pulls into select theatres on December 5th and is available on all major streaming platforms that day, too.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 86 mins
Director: Ryan Francis
Writer: Ryan Francis; Judah Ray; James Cullen Bressack
Cast: Nicky Whelan; Scout Taylor-Compton; Louis Mandylor
Genre: Action | Sci-fi
Tagline: Seize Control. Survive the Ride.
Memorable Movie Quote: "The fun is about to begin"
Distributor: Level 33 Entertainment
Official Site:
Release Date: December 5, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: On a high-tech train, passengers with brain implants face chaos when a hacker takes control. Strangers must unite to fight back while grappling with technology's threats.
