The early 2010s have been a boon time for best-selling novels with “Girl” in the title, the way the ’80s were a golden age of sitcoms starring black little people. British author Paula Hawkins’ The Girl On The Train has been called “the next Gone Girl” and last year spent 13 weeks atop the New York Times bestseller list. Where the Gone Girl movie adaptation had David Fincher, Girl On The Train has Tate Taylor, previously of Get On Up (my review) and The Help.
Tate Taylor is no David Fincher, to be sure, but Train also has Emily Blunt, possibly Hollywood’s most underrated actress. Blunt plays Rachel Watson, a melancholy divorcée who becomes entangled in the disappearance of Megan, played by the comically attractive Haley Bennett. Justin Theroux, with his tight body and understanding eyebrows, also makes an appearance in there, so there will definitely be somethin’ for the ladies. Not to mention Edgar Ramirez and Luke Evans, of Point Break remake fame. Wait, no, that was Luke Bracey in Point Break. Dangit, I’m always getting my hunky beefcakes named Luke confused.
Here’s a quick movie synopsis, via Universal:
In the thriller, Rachel (Blunt), who is devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day, until one morning she sees something shocking happen there and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds.
And here’s a quick book synopsis, via Amazon:
The story is told from three character’s not-to-be-trusted perspectives: Rachel [Emily Blunt], who mourns the loss of her former life with the help of canned gin and tonics; Megan (aka Jess) [Haley Bennett]; and Anna, Rachel’s ex-husband’s wife [Rebecca Ferguson], who happens to be Jess/Megan’s neighbor. Rachel’s voyeuristic yearning for the seemingly idyllic life of Jess and Jason lures her closer and closer to the investigation into Jess/Megan’s disappearance, and closer to a deeper understanding of who she really is. And who she isn’t.
No word on whether screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson wrote a new twist ending for the movie like Gillian Flynn did for Gone Girl, but I’m guessing this “disappearance” will just turn out to be the woman making up crazy stories again. (*twirls index finger next to ear*) Typical.
The Girl On The Train opens Oct 7.