The Commuter is the new action-thriller from director Jaume Collet-Serra [“Unknown”, “Non-Stop”], and stars Liam Neeson in their fourth collaboration together. Neeson plays Muchae MacCauley, a businessman who is caught up in a criminal conspiracy by an unknown stranger on the train, Joanna [Vera Farmiga] [“Bates Motel”] during his daily commute home.
The Commuter: The good
“The Commuter” is by far their best collaboration, boasting a superior Hitchcock thriller while adding scenes of breakneck action and slowly cranked tension when needed.
Liam Nesson is always likable as the average joe caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time and s given a proposition to find a passenger who does not belong on the train for a reward of $75,000.
Vera Farmiga, who’s best known for the excellent hit TV series “Bates Motel” impresses as the supposed villain of the movie and is cold and calculating.
Patrick Wilson plays Alex, Michaels’s best friend, and Police Officer and brings his ever likable charisma he brought to his previous work such as “The Conjuring” and “Lakeview Terrace”.
Sam Neill also has a small role as Alex’s boss and head of the NYPD but has little to work within such a small who is underused in the movie
Jaume Collet-Serra has crafted an action-packed roller coaster ride packed with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end and slowly cranks the tension that is centered almost entirely in one location.
The Commuter: The bad
The film is an edge of your seat thriller from the get go but the what lets it down is the use of over the top CGI that borderlines on cheesy at times and some of the characters don’t even get a look in, such as Sam Neill’s underused NYPD cop who could have been given more screen time.
The Commuter: Final Thoughts
Overall, “The Commuter” is a superior Hitchcock thriller that has you on the edge of your seat until the very end and features another likable turn from Liam Neeson. It’s action-packed and occasionally cheesy, but you can’t help but walk out of the cinema with a big grin on your face.
