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If you've been catching up with recent movie news, you'll probably notice more and more reviews comparing 'The Girl on the Train' to the mind-blowing 'Gone Girl'
Aside from the 'Girl' in the movie title, the most obvious similarity between the two films is their choice to portray a different side to women that's a far cry from standard Hollywood templates.
**WTH is the movie about?**
In 'The Girl on the Train', the story revolves around three troubled women: **raging alcoholic Rachel** (Emily Blunt) who can't quite get her life on track after her messy divorce from ex-husband Tom (Justin Theroux); **Tom's new wife Anna** (Rebecca Ferguson) who's constantly paranoid after suffering countless harassment episodes by Rachel; and **housewife with a dark past Megan** (Haley Bennett) who mysteriously disappears one evening.
Here's why there's been a lot of buzz surrounding the movie lately:
1. It tells a perfectly human story
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On her commute every day, Rachel passes by the home she used to own with her ex-husband, envying his life with his new wife and the baby she's always dreamed of having.
Somewhere along the way, she develops a strange hobby: Staring into the home of a perfect-looking couple just a few houses away from her old house, and vividly imagining (complete with made-up names) what their lives are like.
2. The best-selling novel it's based on remained #1 on the New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2015 list for 13 consecutive weeks
The novel's astounding success is a clear indication that the story resonates deeply with the modern-day audience. Following its 2015 achievement, this intimate thriller rose to the top spot again in early January for 2 weeks. The book has since been translated to more than 40 languages.
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3. You will not see the plot twist coming
Woven into the seemingly mundane lives of the suburbia dwellers is a murder mystery waiting to be solved. Along the way towards the climax, the movie drops mini gasp-worthy reveals, including the real reason why Rachel is on the train everyday.
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4. You'll probably not like Emily Blunt's character very much, but she's okay with that
5. The stellar cast's strong performances will make you wonder who you can trust
Joining the line-up of troubled female characters are the equally shifty men: Rachel's ex-husband Tom (Justin Theroux) who knows more than he lets on, Scott (Luke Evans) with his sinister streak, and Dr. Kamal Abdic (Édgar Ramírez), a therapist with a weakness for his client.
PS. Here's a little treat for true Friends fans – look out for Lisa Kudrow's appearance in the film!
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6. It joins the growing list of powerful female-driven films that challenge women's roles
The 2014 thriller 'Gone Girl' redefined female narratives in films when it portrayed "crazy" wife Amy Dunne as more than a one-dimensional villain, and explored how she ended up there. That's why, despite her vicious revenge plot, the movie left a lot of viewers nodding in understanding of what it's like to be in a toxic relationship.
A year before, the movie 'Her' shattered all notions that women exist only to please their men by telling a story we've all been waiting to hear: women are capable of anything they set their mind to, and should not apologise for exercising their basic right to pursue their passions.
Joining the list of thought-provoking female-led psychological trailers is 'The Girl On The Train', which delves deep into the realities of modern relationships and questions the role and responsibilities assigned to women – what they should look like, how they should behave, and such.
Image via Dreamworks Pictures
Ready to solve the mystery? Catch 'The Girl on the Train' in cinemas starting 6 October!
Image via Dreamworks Pictures
