Twisted Rails: Steam, Suspicion, and Some Very B-Movie Acting

Is this thing worth a look?

If you're the kind of person who gets a kick out of dusty 1930s-style melodrama, you might have a decent time. If you need pacing that feels like it was edited in this century, you’ll probably hate every second.

Twisted Rails is basically what happens when you decide that a train crash is the ultimate plot device. It’s not subtle. It’s not trying to be The Trouble with Wives, that's for sure.

The Setup

So, a guy working for the railroad finds out who 'The Wrecker' is. He’s all nervous, practically sweating bullets. Then—surprise—he gets shot immediately. It’s almost funny how fast he goes down. It’s like the movie didn't want to pay him for a second day of work.

Then we get our hero. He’s just a passenger. He steps up like he’s got nothing better to do than hunt down a serial train-wrecker. I guess in these older films, nobody ever calls the actual police.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Twisted Rails (1934) through its definitive frames.

Odd Details

• The dialogue is stiff enough to be used as a railroad tie.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same extra in the background of three different scenes, looking confused.
• The way they handle the 'mystery' is less of a riddle and more of a neon sign.

There’s a scene about halfway through where someone is hiding behind a barrel. It lingers for like twenty seconds. The silence is just weird, not tense. You can tell the actor is waiting for a cue that came late.

It’s not as well-put-together as Second Hand Love, but it’s got that weird, grainy charm. Sometimes the sound mix makes the trains sound like they’re inside the room with you. It’s kind of loud, honestly. 🚂

I don't think I'll remember this one in a week. But for 60 minutes? It was fine. It’s the kind of thing you watch while folding laundry or staring at the wall on a Tuesday. It’s not trying to change your life. It’s just trying to keep the trains moving.

Don't expect some grand reveal at the end. You’ll probably guess who the bad guy is ten minutes in. But hey, it’s a ride, right?