A World of Lies, Cruelty and Murder

How peculiar Hollywood moviemakers are. Glom on to Paula Hawkins’ 2015 bestselling novel, “The Girl on the Train,” transpose it from England across the ocean to Westchester County, star the oh-so-English Emily Blunt — complete with posh London accent — as the divorced, self-pitying alcoholic Rachel, and maybe you have a hit. 

Rachel is on a self-perpetuating downward trajectory. She used to be with Tom (Justin Theroux), who left her after she could not get pregnant. Now he is with Anna (Rebecca Ferguson), the woman he was cheating with while still married to Rachel, and they have an adorable child. Rachel drinks vodka nonstop, compulsively takes the train into the city every day to a job she long since lost because of booze and, amazingly, spies on Tom and Anna, who live in her former house, from her train window.

But Rachel has a new obsession, too: Through her window she sees a gorgeous blonde woman and her handsome, seemingly devoted partner, who turn out to be Megan (Haley Bennett) and Scott (Luke Evans). She fantasizes about their perfect life together until she witnesses a shocking event. Soon she is drawn into a world of lies, cruelty and murder.

Blunt, usually so reliable and resilient, here whinges her way through this unsympathetic role, all flushed nose and chapped lips below hollowed eyes. The supporting cast is fine; they just have little to do. Edgar Ramirez, for example, is excellent as the ethically challenged psychiatrist in whom Megan confides. But he disappears never to be seen or mentioned again. The best moments go to Lisa Kudrow, whose Martha — she was named Clara in the book — clears the fog clouding Rachel’s mind in an astringent monologue.

But Kudrow’s energy does not rub off on the rest of the film. Quickly we are back in the dark blues and grays that Director TateTaylor (“The Help”) has chosen and chugging toward the shockingly gruesome ending. Even before filming, Taylor said he would emphasize addiction, sexuality, darkness and “keep it very truthful.” If Taylor had even a smidgen of the wit and imagination that David Fincher brought to “Gone Girl,” this might have been a valid approach and a compelling movie. He doesn’t, and it isn’t.

 

“The Girl on the Train” is playing widely. It is rated R for violence, obscenity, sexuality and nudity.

Latest News

Cornwall board approves purchase of two new fire trucks following CVFD recommendation
CVFD reaches fundraising goal for new fire trucks
Provided

CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.

Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less