Runaway Train

On a bitter winter day, veteran inmate Manny Manheim and a younger escapee Buck break free from a brutal prison. They end up on a runaway freight locomotive hurtling toward an uncertain destination, with Sara, a stubborn railway worker who hops aboard to survive, clinging to a seat near the cab. A ruthless security chief, Ranken, orders a relentless pursuit to recapture them, turning the speeding train into a lethal chessboard. The trio must improvise as icy tunnels, shattered tracks, and a conductor's warnings collide with their fragile alliance. The tension tightens without promising a safe return. Their fragile alliance is tested as the train careens through snowdrifts, and every decision could mean escape or capture.

Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, Runaway Train adapts a screenplay from Edward Bunker, Djordje Milicevic and Paul Zindel, presenting a tight thriller anchored by strong performances. The production favors practical stunts and winter to emphasize claustrophobic feel, 9 million budget.

Voight's hard edged Manny and De Mornay's Sara drive the tension, while the chase on a raging locomotive became the film's defining image. Runaway Train is often cited for its relentless pace and practical stunt work that keeps the danger tangible.

Critics praised the taut premise and Konchalovsky's brisk direction, though some noted the screenplay veers toward formula. The film explores freedom and responsibility, loyalty under pressure, and how power structures pursue those who break away while the machine of modern life rumbles on.