Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Snowpiercer’

Written by Scott Edwards 

After an experiment to end global warming has gone drastically wrong, the world falls into an ice age that has killed off most of the population on earth. With the only survivors finding safety on a train powered by a perpetual-motion engine, a class system has come back into effect. With the last group of survivors being pushed into the back of the train and being forced to fend for themselves, they know that life at the front of the train is much more luxurious and actually houses a standard of humanity that has been taken away from them.

After seventeen years of being stuck in their sub-par living conditions, Curtis and his good friend Edgar are planning on moving up, in life and in the train. With the back of the train's elder, Gilliam, pushing them towards a feat that has not been accomplished in several tries, Curtis has come up with a plan and will not stop until he reaches the front of the train. As a couple of revolts have failed in the past, Gilliam is sure that Curtis is the one that can fulfill his goal of getting to the front of the train and take the engine away from Mr. Wilford and bring peace and equality to the locomotive.

As Curtis and his followers are able to get through the first couple of cars with little opposition, they will need someone to help them get through the doors the rest of the way. Finding out that the man who created the locking systems on the train has been put in prison, the group sets out to free him and make it to the famed engine that has been nothing but a burden to them for most of their lives. With someone that knows the train and its systems, the group is able to move forward and is met in each car with a different set of challenges that costs several lives at each turn. As the train cannot be stopped since it is the only thing keeping them from freezing in the ice age, Curtis and his followers are looking for a way to make their current class system, just a little bit more fair.

Snowpiercer follows Curtis on his way to the front of the train to take control and make the living conditions more tolerable for everyone, especially the survivors in the back of the train. Being pushed by his longtime friend and mentor Gilliam on what needs to be done, Curtis will not allow himself to be stopped as his and his group's lives are being controlled by an unseen conductor. Moving up the train, car by car, the group of tail enders get to see what the better half on the train is accustomed to and that only drives their rage to take control of the massive locomotive. As each car shows a better way of living, it also comes with more difficult challenges that the group is forced to face, or be pushed back to their old way of living. Curtis is not detoured on his quest to the engine, but if he is able to take over the train, will he like what he has to become?

A very interesting apocalyptic movie that really does utilize the class system in a way that you would not expect, since most of the current movies and TV shows that deal with the end of the world, show people working together to survive. On the train, everyone serves a purpose, but it is only applied to the poor people that are kept at arm’s length at the back of the train. With plenty of action and violence, this movie will keep you watching, but there is one scene that will forever be lodged in my mind and that is when the train celebrates the New Year. Happy Viewing.

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