A marvellous setting for a horror movie – the trans-Siberian express in 1906. Christopher Lee has just led an expedition to China and obtained a mysterious frozen creature. While on board he runs into some dubbed actors, a Rasputin like figure and Peter Cushing. The creature turns into The Thing, taking over various humans. There are zombies, countesses and Americans.
This is a little gem – perhaps not as good as its reputation in some quarters, but I think that came about because of fans who caught it late at night on TV, where overall standards tend to be low. Cushing and Lee are always fun together - I love the bit where they get indignant to suggestions they're the monster because "We're British". An equally big part goes to some actor who plays a local police inspector - but the best performance goes to Telly Savalas, who is terrific as a nasty Cossack who comes on board the train during the last twenty minutes.
The film's Spanish origins are betrayed in the spaghetti western-like theme music and dubbed voices.
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