Trivia / Terror Train

• Actor-Inspired Element: Jaime Lee Curtis came up with the idea that the killer should rip Alana's hoop earring off during the climatic fight.
• Awesome, Dear Boy: Ben Johnson agreed without even reading the script because he was a fan of director Roger Spottiswoode.
• Cast the Expert: Ken the Magician is played Real Life Stage Magician David Copperfield.
• Completely Different Title:
  • Denmark: The Massacre in the Night Train
  • France: The Train Monster
  • Germany: Monster in the Night Express
  • Greece: Massacre on the Death Train
  • Sweden: Dark Night: Bloody New Year's Night
  • Thailand: Devil's Railcar
• Dark Horse Casting: Derek McKinnon was a drag performer who had never been in a film before, and was only accompanying a friend to the auditions. He was asked to try out and did so, assuming it was a bit part. After four call backs, he was cast and only then did he realise he was a lead in a film with Jamie Lee Curtis.
• Hostility on the Set:
  • Roger Spottiswoode didn't get along with Derek McKinnon too well, as the latter was not used to film and the need to show up on time and have contracts.
  • Derek also didn't get on with Hart Bochner, claiming he "irritated the crap" out of him during filming - going on to say that his favorite scene was where he got to kill him.
• Old Shame: David Copperfield is on record as wanting "to rent every copy of this video and not return them".
• Typecasting: Jamie Lee Curtis in one of her quintessential Final Girl roles. She actually shot this back to back with Prom Night (1980).
• Wag the Director: Positive example. Ben Johnson told the director that he could cut any lines he wanted, because he felt he wouldn't need as many (having learned that working with John Ford).
• What Could Have Been:
  • A remake was in development, but it eventually evolved into the Hostel-esque Train (which retains the Terror Train title in Japan). A proper remake was made and released on Tubi in 2022.
  • Derek McKinnon was asked to share a kiss scene with Ben Johnson while disguised as the assistant, but he refused. The latter found out about this and talked him around, so the scene was filmed but ended up cut.

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