The Thriller Novel That Inspired Netflix’s The Girl on the Train

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Emily Blunt consistently delivers fantastic performances, and her film The Girl on the Train is a standout example. Based on Paula Hawkins’ 2015 novel and directed by Tate Taylor, the movie is known for its surprising plot twists and visually appealing scenes. The filmmakers did change the setting from the book’s original location in the UK to the USA.

Upon its release, The Girl on the Train quickly became a bestseller, reaching the top of The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2015 list and being translated into 21 languages for readers in 34 countries. Paula Hawkins crafted a suspenseful story, similar to Gone Girl, filled with murder, secrets, and deceit, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The film adaptation, starring Emily Blunt, successfully captured that same thrilling feeling. The movie also featured Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, and Justin Theroux.

The Girl On The Train Has A Riveting Plot

Despite a somewhat predictable storyline, the way the movie is told and unfolds keeps you on the edge of your seat. It slowly reveals details, beginning with Rachel Watson, who regularly rides the train and deliberately chooses a specific seat to observe the people and homes around her.

Rachel often observes two houses and the couples who live there, wishing she had the same happiness. She’s especially fascinated by one young couple – a blonde woman and her husband – and creates elaborate stories about their seemingly passionate life together.

Next door lives another blonde woman with her husband, and Rachel often sees her taking care of a baby. This is where Rachel gets a shocking discovery: it’s the house she used to live in, and the woman, Anna, is the one Tom – Rachel’s ex-husband – had an affair with. While Rachel spends hours each day commuting to New York, Anna is living the life Rachel always wanted, in their home with Tom.

The series gradually reveals Rachel’s troubled past, showing us her difficult marriage and struggle with infertility. She turned to alcohol to deal with the pain, and her behavior while drinking became erratic and caused problems, ultimately leading to the breakdown of her marriage. Things get much worse when she unexpectedly sees a blonde woman kissing someone who isn’t her husband. Shocked and fueled by alcohol, Rachel impulsively leaves the train determined to confront them both.

Rachel wakes up at home, disoriented and covered in blood, to news reports of a missing woman named Megan. The film follows Rachel as she struggles to piece together what happened that night, especially after Megan’s body is found and the police suspect Rachel was fixated on her.

The psychological thriller The Girl on the Train centers around a woman with personal struggles who insists she’s seen something suspicious. However, no one believes her due to her history of alcohol abuse and a reputation for being volatile. Rachel constantly faces judgment and disbelief, despite maintaining her innocence. A surprising reconnection with an old friend ultimately shifts the course of events.

The Girl On The Train Is A Thriller That Leaves A Lasting Impact

As expected, the major plot twist was more complex in the book, but the movie did a good job of building suspense and misleading the audience before revealing the truth. Ultimately, The Girl on the Train is a story about three women unexpectedly linked together, and the suffering that results from their difficult relationships and poor choices in love.

The story challenges viewers to piece together the events of a confusing night and uncover who murdered Megan. The killer is portrayed as a master manipulator who abused three women. He skillfully gaslit his wife, Rachel, convincing her she was unstable and prone to outbursts, while secretly being the one causing the problems. He then had an affair with Anna and abandoned Rachel to build a life with her.

Tom was often seen as a minor character in both the book and film, but it became clear he was more deceptive than harmless. Even after leaving his wife, Rachel, for Anna, he continued his infidelity, secretly having an affair with Megan. When Megan became pregnant, Tom reacted with cowardice and killed her.

In Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, the story reveals how damaging Tom Watson’s behavior was to the women around him. He treated his ex-wife, current wife, and mistress as if they were expendable, and didn’t face any repercussions until Rachel took a risk to uncover the truth.

Though Megan appeared to have no involvement in the drama between Tom, Anna, and Rachel, she was actually caught up in it, and it ultimately led to her death. The film is complex and winding, but the conclusion feels satisfying once the full scope of Tom’s wrongdoing is revealed.

Emily Blunt Was Striking As Rachel, Despite Middling Movie Reviews

Emily Blunt delivered a standout performance in The Girl on the Train, even though the screenplay wasn’t particularly strong. She skillfully portrayed the inner struggles of a deeply troubled woman, while also capturing the fragility of a recently divorced woman who is struggling to cope. Rachel, the character Blunt plays, isn’t immediately likable – particularly in the first part of the story – but Blunt makes her both sympathetic and fascinating, especially when the story suggests Rachel might be involved in Megan’s death.

CBR Report

CBR Report

Emily Blunt brilliantly portrayed the character’s descent into alcoholism, her intense anger, and deep sadness over a life gone wrong. This performance earned her nominations for leading actress at both the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the British Academy Film Awards. Blunt truly captured the character’s complex nature – a blend of fury, vulnerability, and fairness – in a way that few other actresses could have.

Throughout the film, Emily Blunt delivers a subtle and believable performance, perfectly capturing the complexities of her character. Even in the intense final scenes, she portrays Rachel as deeply troubled and vulnerable, yet surprisingly resilient, as she faces danger from her ex-husband. The Girl on the Train explores not only the mystery surrounding Megan’s death, but also the frightening inner world of Rachel herself.

Okay, so The Girl on the Train didn’t exactly wow critics – it’s sitting at around 44% on Rotten Tomatoes – but honestly, I think it’s worth checking out. Emily Blunt is phenomenal, and the ending? Seriously shocking! Looking back, I feel like the reviews were a little tough. The movie really sticks close to the book, and I think it deserved the same kind of praise. Plus, if you’re interested, there’s even a 2021 Indian adaptation that puts a fresh spin on the story and brings it back to the UK, and they’ve even made it into a stage play now!

This thrilling story really stood out in its genre thanks to its shocking twist and clever use of misleading clues, and it’s seriously underrated. The suspenseful plot of The Girl on the Train is so captivating, it could even support multiple remakes or adaptations.

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2025-12-23 18:39