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Derailed
The Weinstein Company LLC


6.6

based on 34 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 50 votes
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Rate this movie

FILM:

Evil

MPAA RATING: R for strong disturbing violence, language and some sexuality

Starring Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel, Melissa George, RZA, Addison Timlin, Tom Conti, Xzibit, and Giancarlo Esposito

Charles Schine (Owen) and Lucinda Harris (Aniston) have noticed each other on the commuter train before. One morning their conversation leads to a flirtation which turns into an evening drink and then, before either one can stop it, a passionate one-night stand. But suddenly a stranger explodes into their world, threatening to expose their secret and lures them into a terrifying game with more surprises then they saw coming and more danger then they may survive. (The Weinstein Company)

GENRE(S):	Drama \| Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Stuart Beattie James Siegel (novel)
DIRECTED BY:	Mikael Håfström
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 21, 2006 Theatrical: November 11, 2005
RUNNING TIME:	110 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

It's fast, slick, stupid, violent fun and, despite the cynically high body count, without serious intention in this world.

Chicago Tribune Allison Benedikt

It's a cheap thrill, with twists that later seem evident and foreshadowing that often seems obvious, with a B-movie look and vibe reminiscent of the much tighter "Jagged Edge."

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Derailed has a great setup, a good middle passage and some convincing performances. Then it runs off the tracks.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

A movie so hysterical it worked best as a black comedy.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

A tawdry, predictable hunk of movie headcheese, and I still had a pretty good time with it.

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

For starters, everything's grimy and humorless in a way that infects even Aniston.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

James Siegel's best-selling thriller Derailed is a perfect commuter book that has become the most imperfect of movies.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The perky Aniston is both unflatteringly photographed and utterly unconvincing in the pivotal role of Lucinda, and overall the film has the oddly disconnected quality of '70s Euro-thrillers whose international casts spoke different languages on the set and were dubbed into conformity.

Film Threat Rick Kisonak

Gratuitously brutal, chronically preposterous, abysmally unoriginal, pretty much pointless and virtually 100% free of credible characters, Derailed represents career lows for its stars while marking an unpromising English language debut for its director.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

For some reason Derailed never fully engages our sympathies. I think that's because it's difficult to swallow Owen as anything other than eminently resourceful.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Watching this thriller is like drinking milk that's about to turn: it looks OK but smells a little dodgy.

Dallas Observer Bill Gallo

Villain? Great. Verdict? Average.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

Rapidly devolves into a pedestrian thriller in which almost nobody behaves in a recognizably human way.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Owen is all right as the harried husband whose relationship at home has turned frosty, but the essential heat between him and Aniston is missing. The actress succeeds in shedding her "Friends" persona, but there's something missing here, especially as things get knottier.

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

Stay home.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

The strapping Owen as a guy who can't handle himself and cutie-pie Aniston as a witchy woman? I don't think so. Talk about derailed.

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

This flaccid psychological thriller keeps spoiling its own surprise by constantly signaling the big plot twist.

Village Voice Laura Sinagra

Clive Owen proves he can just about save anything.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

A junky thriller that mistakes brute-strength plot twist, showy violence, and the against-type participation of Jennifer Aniston for earned excitement.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

Every swing of its plot is preposterous, it stumbles to a trick climax that any regular moviegoer will figure out in the first 10 minutes, and the ending is so absurdly unmotivated that it plays like a slap in the face.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Jennifer Aniston brings a needed liveliness to Derailed, though not enough to go around.

Variety Justin Chang

This murky psychological suspenser manages the tricky feat of being as predictable as it is finally preposterous.

Empire Anna Smith

There's a good film in here somewhere, but it's buried under a messy structure and unclear direction.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Much of the second half is spent waiting for the other shoe to drop, though you don't have to have 20/20 vision in order to see the big twist coming from miles away. Once it arrives, the film officially disembarks from reality with an over-the-top climax and denouement that play shamelessly to the bloodthirsty masses.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Tedious and predictable, it employs obvious situations and clichés instead of genuine suspense-building elements.

USA Today Mike Clark

Clumsy, miscast thriller.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Most painfully, the semi-alert Owen and the leaden Aniston go together like sausages and syrup.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

Was the Swedish director, Mikael Hafstrom, taking revenge on the American star system?

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Directed by Swedish filmmaker Mikael Håfström, who's clearly new at the genre, this aptly named movie is riddled with obvious parallels, crude moral talking points, a script so awful it's practically avant-garde, and a vain attempt at comic relief by RZA.

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

Riddled with holes and undeveloped characters, and marred by lurching rhythms that may reflect some triage editing, so it's hard to see what Mr. Hafstrom brings to this film other than a murky palette.

Premiere Peter Debruge

Swedish director Mikael Håfström's Derailed makes "Fatal Attraction" look positively subtle, while mustering none of the nuance or moral complexity (not to mention the sexual chemistry) of "Unfaithful."

San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein

Poor casting is compounded by a ludicrous script.

Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano

Derailed seems to want badly to be described as contemporary noir. But it's just pitch-dumb.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Train wreck.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 50 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Alan N. gave it a5:
Not unwatchable by any means and if you don't wish to be mentally challenged you may well enjoy it. With his current rising stock in Hollywood, I'm really surprised Clive Owen accepted a lead role in this movie, however, as the plot line is so completely predictable. As you can see from my score, I wouldn't recommend it.

Abby L gave it a7:
I was fortunate enough to read the book Derailed before I saw the movie. The twist was very very enthralling, but I will give an ample warning to all READ THE BOOK, it is oh so better and very very in detail.

A Movie Critic gave it a6:
A pretty interesting movie to watch but unfortunately, the script felt unpolished, the scenario not too believable, and the casting seemed a little off. Aside from Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston (good actors who just don't have much chemistry here,) Derailed features rappers RZA and Xzibit (not as cameos, but as main characters) and while their performances aren't horrible, them being in the movie is definitely more of a distraction than an asset. There's a very satisfying confromtation in the movie towards the end but otherwise, the movie never really seems to do much with its premise.

Bill B. gave it a9:
It is not a classic, but it is suspenceful and fun.

Diego F. gave it a10:
One of the best movies I have seen in the past 2 years! 2005 and 2006 have only put trash on the big screen. This is a very good movie with lots of suspense, at least 2 changing points in its development and not at all predictable untill the last 20'. Highly recommendable

Brandon A. gave it a9:
WHAT IS WITH THE BAD REVIEWS!!!! I absolutely loved this movie!!! I guess I don't know about the "proper" way a line should be read or whatever. I watch movies to be entertained and that is what this movie did. So many twist! I loved it. Best movie I have seen in a WHILE! The only reason I didn't give it a 10 was because of....*STEREOTYPE ALERT* I am a black man, and some parts I was going "GRRR!!! SO STUPID!!!! SAY SOMETHING ALREADY!!!" hahahaa. But in the end, everything made since. Also to think about it, I can totally understand why all the characters did what they did. Go rent this now!

Jeff M. gave it a5:
Feels like a forgotten script that got buried somewhere after Michael Douglas passed on it in 1988.

Derailed The Weinstein Company LLC

Derailed
The Weinstein Company LLC