Source Code – Review

A sleek and packed passenger train zips along the tracks towards Chicago. Sean Fentress (Gyllenhaal) wakes up, a bit out of sorts, but a nice voice greets him. Fellow commuter Christina Warren (Monaghan) relays some life updates, relationship wise and such, but Sean does not appear to register much.

Sean introduces himself to Christina as Captain Colter Stevens. …What? Things continue to get weirder through conversation. There appears to be some chaos on the train, and then who knows exactly what happens as a flurry of chaos hits. Next, Captain Stevens is talking to his superiors, which assure him confusion is normal at this stage.

So, what the hell is going on? The plot is best discovered through watching the film, and plenty of people will know this one already. It remains a solid thriller to this day, and despite some drawbacks, its core idea has a lot to offer. In general, Source Code offers a fast-paced thrill ride with light mystery elements and a ticking clock.

While I find this film quite watchable and it features great acting by good people, I can’t help but be a bit creeped out by one of its mechanics and how it resolves itself by the end. Definitely can’t talk about it without spoilers, but there is some residual weirdness by end credits.

Mostly this is a smart and quick film that features a few familiar conventions and some totally creative new takes on things. It offers a lot to think about, and presents the story in a fun way. Lots of viewers like this movie more than I do, but I still find it a decent time due to high production values, solid direction and good performances.

“What aren’t you telling me here?”