Nightsleeper review: Ham-fisted thriller is like Red Eye, but dafter

Nightsleeper review: Ham-fisted thriller is like Red Eye, but dafter
2.0 out of 5 star rating

A tense, high-stakes story happening on a train in the UK has opened up plenty of opportunities for humor about our struggling rail system. However, since many others have already made those jokes, I’ll try my best not to follow suit – we’ll see if I can resist for very long.

The Nightsleeper train unexpectedly sets off promptly, catching passengers off guard as they were on an overnight trip from Glasgow to London (oh my, not much time left). However, a more unsettling revelation unfolds when they find out that the train has been hacked by an unidentified individual who is manipulating it remotely and demanding ransom from those aboard.

In a style reminiscent of Die Hard, an off-duty police officer named Joe Roag (played by Joe Cole) finds himself unknowingly thrust into the heart of this story and becomes the leader of the passenger’s daring escape attempt. He receives advice from Abby Aysgarth, an operative from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), who is tirelessly working to outsmart the malicious adversary using their own tactics.

The group of individuals traveling together appears to be a collection of characters seemingly engineered to grate on each other’s nerves: a disliked government official, a nosy reporter (blech), a provocateur against political correctness, a passionate young progressive, a woman with a troubled background, her frosty father-in-law, and so forth.

Time tends not to stretch out when they begin clashing, making a tough scenario even more challenging. Yet, maybe they’ll discover shared interests as the conflict deepens, you know, like finding a silver lining in a cloud? Alright.

While I do believe it’s crucial to emphasize the importance of unity, cooperation, empathy, and understanding in society, I don’t find it effective or engaging to forcefully insert such themes into an action thriller in a way that feels awkward and uncomfortable. This approach may not be successful in conveying these valuable messages effectively.

It’s unlikely that someone with deeply ingrained prejudiced beliefs will transform into a symbol of inclusivity just by watching six hours of Nightsleeper, given it frequently appears as educational entertainment rather than a deep exploration of societal issues.

On multiple occasions, a scene seems contrived when a character directly addresses the camera to discuss the social problem they’re currently experiencing, making the scene feel awkward and disruptive to the flow of the show. While representation matters greatly, it should be integrated thoughtfully within the narrative to maintain authenticity and immersion.

It seems that the show Nightsleeper may unintentionally provide fuel for internet bullies, instead of persuading them to stop their harmful behavior. As someone who values social liberalism and desires more diverse representations on screen, I find it disheartening to witness such heavy-handed portrayals during primetime TV broadcasts.

Nightsleeper review: Ham-fisted thriller is like Red Eye, but dafter

Although it’s tempting to describe this as a simple action-packed train thriller, I must admit, it might not be worth your time. Despite its stylish appearance and occasional scenes of the speeding train exterior, the action sequences fall short compared to what you might find on either big or small screens.

What binds everything together in the story? Frankly, it seems a bit far-fetched. However, the creator of Nightsleeper has convinced us that the events portrayed are plausible – and I concur with that – but it’s the way it is presented that prevents any sense of fear from emerging.

The TV series “Nightsleeper” seems quite predictable due to its overuse of common dialogue and storyline patterns. It appears that viewers might easily foresee the sequence of events as it follows familiar tropes from the monotonous conspiracy thriller genre, similar to ITV’s Red Eye.

The two shows not only have a similar backdrop involving transport, but they also subtly touch on current global political issues, using China as a stand-in for Iran in some instances.

Additionally, if I’m made to listen to yet another character spout technical jargon, only for a non-technical companion to respond with, ‘Could you say that in layman’s terms?’, it might push me over the edge.

Nightsleeper review: Ham-fisted thriller is like Red Eye, but dafter

The storyline is weakened significantly by an excessive number of jokes, which transform this series from a drama to a comedy-drama hybrid. It’s challenging to perceive the danger posed by the terrifying train when the passengers themselves are constantly making light-hearted comments. If these jokes were amusing or well-written, it might be acceptable, but instead, they usually feel more like a nuisance.

All things considered, the cast of Nightsleeper delivers admirably despite the mediocre script material. Cole and Roach, as the main characters, are likable enough and their on-screen chemistry, limited as it is to phone conversations, stands out remarkably. Among the supporting actors, there’s no one who falls short, but neither does anyone truly shine brightly.

Ultimately, Nightsleeper seems like a series struggling to find its identity. It offers hints of a clever train-set action-comedy, moments of tense cyber suspense, and stabs at serious commentary on political division and marginalization. However, these elements don’t always mesh well, creating an unusual mix that some viewers might find hard to swallow entirely.

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2024-09-15 12:04