Starring: Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Sam Neill, Killian Scott, Elizabeth McGovern, Andy Nyman

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Release date: 19th January 2018

Michael MacCauley (Liam Neeson) is a successful insurance salesman, who commutes to the office each day by train. Every journey is pretty samey and he’s gotten to know a lot of his fellow travellers. One day, he heads into work, only to be told that his services are no longer required. Dejected and wondering how he’ll tell his family, he heads home on the train. The train is pretty packed and Michael finally finds a seat. A woman (Vera Farmiga) sits opposite him and they start chatting. She talks of a hypothetical proposition which involves him locating a passenger on the train that ‘doesn’t belong’. There will be no repercussions for him or his family for singling out the mystery person and he will be handsomely rewarded for doing the job. Michael has a huge decision to make. Would you implicate a stranger, for whom the ramifications could be life threatening, take the cash and be able to walk away with a clear conscience?


A real rollercoaster of a movie, ‘The Commuter’ shows the brilliant Liam Neeson at his very best. A lot of people were touting this movie as ‘Taken 4’ or ‘Taken on a train’ but I wouldn’t really make that comparison. I found out the other day that he’s actually 65 years old! Feels unbelievable that he’s that age and still doing what he does in these action movies. I know his character, Michael is 60 years old, but still… There are some fantastic fight sequences in this film, which will literally leave you gasping. He takes a good beating from various people, but gives back as good as he gets. The bits where he’s outside the train are pretty visually stunning as well… Keep an eye out for a fight scene involving a guitar. I think it could be a fight that will be remembered for a long time in the future.


The ensemble cast is pretty great, with Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel, The Judge, Orphan and Up In The Air) as the mysterious woman who approaches Michael and then there’s the always wonderful Sam Neill as Michael’s ex-boss. Definitely one of my favourite actors of all time, who never generally disappoints in his acting roles.

Great cast, great action, okay story, and some pretty amazing punch-ups makes this definitely one to catch in your local Cineplex. If you love watching Liam Neeson beat the crap out of people in movies then definitely go and see this one. It’s worth it for the guitar fight alone!

Overall: 8/10