DVD REVIEW: TRAIN RIDE
DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY REL DOWDELL
*****5 STARS! THE YOUNITY REVIEWERS
SUCCESS STORY- 300,000 DVDS SOLD LATER
UPDATED: AUGUST 29th: HERE ARE OUR ARCHIVES
Train Ride, one of the best movies on DVD, has EVERYTHING that comprises what stellar award winning films are made of from a great beginning, talented cast, dangerous deception, taboo twists, lies and unsuspecting psycho-induced suicide or murder (you decide) to enticing layers of authentic imagery and scenes to keep viewers engaged in the surprise hit of the year directed and written by Rel Dowdell. Great movies are made from great writing, and Train Ride is magnificent!
There are lessons to learn that will pinch at viewer’s nerves second-by-second, especially every parent who sends their child away to college. The greatest lesson to learn will trigger emotions in every college student who may encounter peer pressure and be faced with some of the toughest decisions as the cast of actors in some of the most pivotal roles had to face. Train Ride takes film direction to the limit and challenges each actor to make a split decision where one wrong move, can alter each of their lives forever.
The movie begins with a flash forward scene of a rifle aimed at Will, the college student with a bright future ahead of him, but has risked all by slipping a toxic drug in a college girl’s drink which immobilizes her body.
This scene smoothly transitions to the college campus grounds of Saunder’s University where Will, Ellis and Ron are navigating the premises to find college girls to invite to their gathering. Katrina, played by M.C. Lyte is confronted by Will who despite her wanting to focus on her studies, convinces her to take his number with that "macho-like" talk, and she obliges by bringing 2 of her college peers along, Stephanie and Candy.
The naivete of all the girls allows the fellows to play a grown folks version of "Spin the Bottle," but there isn’t a bottle to spin, just promiscuous peer pressure driven dares from performing lap dances, touching private parts and sipping straight shots of vodka. It’s a scene all too familiar for campus life travesties that begin with these kind of dares.
Will manages to woo M.C. Lyte with more charm then the other fellows. As soon as the other friends leave, Katrina is left behind with the fellows. She winds up following Will up to his bedroom, and hasn’t a clue that he has spiked her drink with a drug that immobilizes her body and zaps her memory of all that happens next.
Will tricks his friends, Ellis and Ron, to perform a "TRAIN RIDE" while she is immobile. Only Ellis has an idea that he has administered a drug, but not Ron. What appears to look like Katrina is the lady who invited a "Train Ride," turns out to be rape against her will. Meanwhile, Will cleverly videotapes his friends in the act of unknowingly raping Katrina.
The next day, Katrina returns to her dorm room and acts erratic. Her own friend, Stephanie believes some rumors she has heard that Katrina allowed the guys to film her and the guys "doing the do.". Will has shown the video to all of his friends in college, but lied and told Ellis and Ron that the video tapes were destroyed.
Things heat up when the fellows find out that there is a tape circulating around campus and so, they visit Will’s dorm to steal and trash the tape in not wanting to be accused of rape or drugging Katrina. Katrina finally lets Stephanie know the truth about having a drink, but she can’t remember anything after the drink was administered to her. The only signs she knows that something happened is when her college peers leave art depictions of video tapes in a college classroom and snicker while she is in class. M.C. Lyte’s performance as Katrina is beyond exceptional and worthy of an Oscar.
What happens to Katrina is sad, dehumanizing and pitiful, but now that the fellows have been snitched on for doing the unthinkable, they have a score to settle with Will who leaked out the tapes, but realize that they need to stick together now that authorities know what happened. Ron wants to confess and changes their course to devastation.
Viewers will question why didn’t Katrina’s father just listen and let her come back home when she cried out to him on the phone without really revealing what went down, and if the ladies would have been better off not going to the PARTY. These scenes leave a lot for every women to ponder and ask, "Is one night of fun really worth it?"
Rel Dowdell makes a very brief appearance in the movie and wears a shirt that clearly is labeled, "Danger, Intelligent Man on Board," and very much unlike the character’s roles which no man today should ever portray unless they want the circumstances to follow.
Train Ride is an explosive, high impact A+ production and a masterfully produced and directed "MUST SEE" movie of the year. Rel Dowdell has created a masterpiece to be commended and celebrated. Disilgold Soul honors Rel Dowdell.
For Immediate Release: Rel J. Dowdell Writer/Director and Award- Winning Film Maker of " Train Ride," a Full-feature Length Film Released by Sony Pictures is now on DVD and Available at Amazon.com.
TRAIN RIDE is a riveting thriller that takes place on an all-Black college campus. Will (Wood Harris of HBO’s The Wire, Paid In Full and Remember The Titans) is an upperclassman who, after a night of partying, convinces freshman Katrina (MC Lyte) to stick around and have a drink. What Katrina doesn't realize is the drink has been spiked with a drug that renders her unconscious. Soon, Will invites his two best friends to unknowingly take part in a gang rape--a "Train Ride," that he captures on videotape. These actions, combined with the guilt, shame, anger and fear that follow take everyone involved on a different journey destined to spiral out of control.
Train Ride is based on Boston University and Fisk graduate Rel J. Dowdell’s is a riveting thriller that takes place on an all-Blackcollege campus. Will (Wood Harris of and ) is an upperclassman who, after a night of partying, convinces freshman Katrina (MC Lyte) to stick around and have a drink. What Katrina doesn't realize is the drink has been spikedwith a drug that renders her unconscious. Soon, Will invites his two best friends to unknowingly take part in a gang rape--a "Train Ride," that he captures on videotape. These actions, combined with the guilt, shame, anger and fear that follow take everyone involved on a different journey destined to spiral out of control. is based on Boston University and Fisk graduate Rel J. Dowdell’s award winning short film of the same name. After the success of the short, Rel was courted by a number of Hollywood players to adapt his movie into a feature-length film. It wasn't long before Rel was back in his hometown of Philadelphia yelling "Action" on his first feature film. Complications arose and finishing funds shriveled when bosses at two major studios committed to the project, were replaced. Train Ride soon gained legendary status within Black independent film circles. Internet buzz grew. Those that were fortunate enough to see early rough cuts gave it a 10 out of 10 rating on the Internet Data Base. Curiosity piqued among insiders for this small little movie out of Philly that also boasted the late Esther Rolle's final film appearance.
Watching Train Ride in 2005 reveals a still topical well crafted and tastefully treated examination of its topic. Loaded with twists and turns, it involves audiences and is guaranteed to spur discussion, especially among those who share the Black college experience. Still in his early 30s, Mr. Dowdell has stayed busy writing screenplays and teaching others the craft as a professor at Boston University while maintaining residence in Philadelphia. He never lost faith that his debut feature would see the light of day and that more doors would open for him. Late last year, Philly's own RUFFNATION FILMS (Snipes) became an angel of sorts, when it acquired all rights to Train Ride. They improved the image added a new soundtrack and director's commentary. The film is a full-feature length film released by Sony pictures is currently available at www. Amazon. com where it was recently a top-ten worldwide best-selling African-American film.
Your review is personally requested on www. Amazon.com as soon as possible. Here is where a copy of the DVD may also be purchased and shipped to your home in a few days to support the writer/director. Be sure to include your email. Your receipt of purchase will be all that is necessary to receive a special letter of thanks from Rel J. Dowdell himself and be added to the" Train Ride" mailing list for upcoming news and announcements about the Writer/Director. Thank you for joining the "Train Ride" review team. Your time and care in expediting a review will be noted from a link to all reviews on the home site of Rel J. Dowdell. Your review may also, be forwarded to rel @reldowdell.com . Thank you once again. Please contact me at 1.718.547.0499 if you will be issuing a review this week for spotlight monthly mailings and promotional press releases.
Rel J. Dowdell is available for speaking appearances, interviews television shows, radio shows, book club and organization engagements which may include signing of his DVD. Mr. Dowdell can share insight on breaking into the film industry, working with a cast of actors, and his expertise on the making of a film. Please indicate full details about your event, guest expectancy, dress code, security provisions and about the event planning team. Forward all information to Customer Service & PR at: rel@reldowdell.com.
Read the Latest Reviews For Train Ride!
"Train Ride" is one of the best, June 16, 2005 Reviewer: T. Wilson (Birmingham, AL)
"If you are a relative or friend of someone who is starting college soon I highly recommend that you buy this DVD for them as a gift. Also, if you are looking for a black film that is entertaining, thought_provoking and full of suspense, this is the perfect movie for you. Although it is a black film, I think everyone will be able to relate to it. I couldn't help but wonder if the same thing that happened to MC Lyte's character happened to the 18 year old young lady (Natalie Holloway) from Alabama who is missing in Aruba. When I bought the DVD I didn't watch it for few weeks because I had low expectations. I thought it would be like some of the other black films that I have seen but I was very wrong. In my opinion, "Train Ride" is far superior to some of the more popular black films released in the last several years. I honestly cannot think of 10 black films of the past decade that are better than this one."
Read the Latest Reviews From Top Film Critic in the Country In Film Culture Column in The Boston Phoenix
The Lion and the Lamb MGM’s Louis B. Mayer, local talent Rel Dowdell BY GERALD PEARY
If people still remember Louis B. Mayer, studio head of Metro Goldwyn Mayer during Hollywood’s golden era, it’s as the ultimate studio mogul/philistine, the Jewish immigrant whose low-level populism and star worship connected MGM with the movie-loving public. In his well-researched 592-page biography, Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer (Simon & Schuster, $35), Scott Eyman strives to present a deeper, shrewder Mayer, a brilliant CEO, a genius at judging people and talent. He was the most rabid Republican of studio heads, and MGM was built around his obsession with family values: movies that were decent and non-violent, movies to which you could bring your kids and your mother. Here’’s the studio of The Wizard of Oz, The Yearling, Meet Me in St. Louis, and, most beloved by both Mayer and the public, the endless Andy Hardy movies.
MGM under Mayer’s tutelage became the white-cloud residence of opulent movie stars, "More stars than there are in Heaven." You’d find, under lucrative contract, Garbo, the Barrymores, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Jean Harlow. A sublime place to be an actor, if Mayer liked you. He kept dapper, handsome, right-wing Robert Taylor under MGM contract for 25 years, even though Taylor was a marginal screen presence. The rule at MGM: performers were most important, then producers, then, down the chain and expendable, writers. Last and least were directors. If you were an "auteur," you could take your aesthetic pretensions to Paramount or RKO. A director’’s job at MGM was to listen to the producers and make the actors look good. And glamorous! The ideal movies, according to Mayer? "Andy Hardy! Clean, wholesome, and with heart. Not one goddamn message in them!"
"REL DOWDELL is a former Boston University graduate film student who commutes from Philadelphia (he says it’s cheaper there than here) to teach BU screenwriting classes. Boundlessly energetic and hypermotivated, this African-American filmmaker in his early 30s is an example of how to navigate in the film world. He’’s taken his thesis short, "Train Ride," winner of BU’s Sumner Redstone Award for Best Student Film, and made it into a 90-minute feature. Train Ride, longer and better and much more professional, is now available on DVD through Sony Music. It’s one of the best American movies so far this year, on screen or on video.
is a former Boston University graduate film student who commutes from Philadelphia (he says it’s cheaper there than here) to teach BU screenwriting classes. Boundlessly energetic and hypermotivated, this African-American filmmaker in his early 30s is an example of how to navigate in the film world. He’’s taken his thesis short, "Train Ride," winner of BU’s Sumner Redstone Award for Best Student Film, and made it into a 90-minute feature. , longer and better and much more professional, is now available on DVD through Sony Music. It’s one of the best American movies so far this year, on screen or on video.
Dowdell is a filmmaker with an urge to preach, to take on the big issues, in the way of John Singleton and Spike Lee. Train Ride is a potent sermon against the immoral behavior of today’s male college students, but Dowdell makes his story more pointed by setting it —— like Spike Lee’s School Daze —— at an unnamed all-black university. There, after an intimate party filled with flirting and sexual innuendo, a male student slips some Rohypnol into a female student’s drink and then rapes her. Two other male students, seeing this young woman asleep and vulnerable, join in the "fun." The victim is played against type by hip-hop superstar MC Lyte, utterly convincing as a fragile, sensitive undergraduate who, desperately confused about what happened to her, lies helplessly in her dorm room, unable to venture out to class.
Wood Harris, star of HBO’s The Wire, is sublimely villainous as the sexual predator who denies he’s done anything wrong. When the rape victim’s female friend confronts him, he presents himself as the victim and his accuser as a meddler, a bitch, a whore. Train Ride also features the last screen performance of the veteran African-American actress Esther Rolle (TV’s Maude and Good Times), in a cameo as the university dean, who’s irate about what’s happening on her campus. Rolle, mortally ill with acute diabetes, was so enamored of Dowdell’s script that she came from LA to do her part. She died soon after the shooting."
is a former Boston University graduate film student who commutes from Philadelphia (he says it’s cheaper there than here) to teach BU screenwriting classes. Boundlessly energetic and hypermotivated, this African-American filmmaker in his early 30s is an example of how to navigate in the film world. He’’s taken his thesis short, "Train Ride," winner of BU’s Sumner Redstone Award for Best Student Film, and made it into a 90-minute feature. , longer and better and much more professional, is now available on DVD through Sony Music. It’s one of the best American movies so far this year, on screen or on video.
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Read an article on Train Ride by Molly Secours of The Tennessean.com
Tuesday, 04/05/05
Molly Secours:Take a searing look at the realities of date rape
By MOLLY SECOURS
If you've been meaning to call Oprah and have been waiting for just the perfect excuse, look no further.
Tonight, an extremely talented Fisk University graduate named Rel Dowdell is screening his latest film called Train Ride on the Fisk campus during the two-day Carlton Moss Film Festival. The film adeptly takes on a subject that everyone needs to know about but doesn't want to discuss: the epidemic spreading throughout college campuses involving the date-rape drug rohypnol.
If you think your son or daughter is immune to being drugged by a stranger or so-called ''friend'' while away at college, think again. According to research by the University of South Florida, FBI and U.S. Department of Justice, drug-induced rapes are on the rise. The studies revealed that 25% of college women have been victims of rape, and of those, 84% knew their attacker and 44% have considered suicide as a result. And those are only the rapes reported. Often times shame and humiliation prevent young women from every reporting the rape.
If you think your son or daughter is immune to being drugged by a stranger or so-called ''friend'' while away at college, think again. According to research by the University of South Florida, FBI and U.S. Department of Justice, drug-induced rapes are on the rise. The studies revealed that 25% of college women have been victims of rape, and of those, 84% knew their attacker and 44% haveonsidered suicide as a result. And those are only the rapes reported. Often times shame and humiliation prevent young women from every reporting the rape.
Rohypnol, GHB and Ketamine are known as ''date rape drugs'' or ''predatory drugs'' because they are used to incapacitate someone for the purposes of committing a crime, often sexual assault. These drugs are odorless and colorless and are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol. They can cause dizziness, disorientation, loss of inhibition and a loss of consciousness. And there's more bad news: These drugs are easy to come by.
In Train Ride, Dowdell incorporates two things: the date rape drug rohypnol —— which is easy to slip into someone's drink without him or her knowing —— and the rampant use of video tapes for recording sexual activities performed once under the influence of the drug.
According to Dowdell, video has become a lethal weapon. ''If they get you on tape performing a sexual act, it can hurt you down the road. If you want to get into broadcasting or politics —— anything in the public eye —— you might be inhibited from fulfilling that dream.'' Worse than that, warns Dowdell, is the destruction of one's reputation and self-respect and the permanent emotional scars left by such humiliation.
Consider the Girls Gone Wild videos —— which are widely advertised on television. They depict college-age women performing wild sexual acts in various states of intoxication. What is equally disturbing is that the video is reported to have grossed over $90 million dollars in sales which means that young women caught drunk and reckless on video is big business.
Dowdell says ''what most people refuse to believe is that whatever you do in college has permanent repercussions on the rest of your life.''
After seeing what happens to Katrina, Train Ride's leading actress (played by rapper M.C. Lyte), most would agree. Katrina is a college freshman —— and by all definitions a ''good girl'' —— who gets charmed and snared into the malicious master plan of a ''cool'' senior named Will (played by Wood Harris, star of HBO's The Wire). After being drugged, Katrina is raped by Will and his two friends who have been convinced by Will that Katrina requested having sex with all of them (aka a ''train ride'') before falling asleep. After lying to his friends, Will then video tapes the two young men having sex with Katrina.
What is so compelling about Train Ride is that Dowdell manages to do what many filmmakers strive to do but often don't. Without gratuitous or explicit scenes in the film, Dowdell gives us chills at the horror of what is done to Katrina —— all the while demonstrating complete respect and sensitivity for the characters and their individual plights. As each character in this tragic debacle begins to emerge, we see just how easy it is to get involved in a situation that you never dreamed could happen and how quickly the life you imagined for yourself is destroyed.
It was the filmmaker's respect for this subject matter that prompted Emmy award-winning actress Esther Rolle to rearrange her dialysis treatments in order to appear in the film in spite of her failing health. As it turns out, Train Ride was Rolle's last performance before her death in November 1998, and the film is dedicated to her.
Asked why he chose date rape, Dowdell says: ''The bottom line is this: if the media doesn't start showing the true consequences of young men and woman being sexually reckless, date rapes will continue to increase, not just on college campuses but everywhere; bars, parties, anywhere that young people socialize. The exploitation that's going on is creating a destructive generation.''
Unfortunately, it seems many parents are unaware of just how rampant date rape is or how easily their daughters or sons could become victims. Many college students are in denial that it could happen to them. Who knows how much grief might be avoided if every college freshman were required to see this film on orientation day?
Maybe Esther Rolle will be looking down on the Fisk campus from heaven with pride tonight, urging someone in the audience who has Oprah's ear to make the call.
Train Ride will be screened as part of the Carlton Moss Film Festival at 7:30 tonight on the Fisk University campus in Park Johnson Hall room 122. For info call: 329-8575 or 329-8581.
Molly Secours is a writer/speaker/filmmaker and frequent co-host of Behind The Headlines on 88.1 WFSK radio.
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