In 1906, arrogant English anthropologist Professor Sir Alexander Saxton (Christopher Lee) discovers a preserved ape-like beast in the frozen wastes of Manchuria which he believes may be the evolutionary ‘Missing Link’.
He brings the creature back to Europe aboard the Trans-Siberian express, but during the trip the monster thaws out and starts to butcher the passengers one by one.
Gentle Dr Wells (Peter Cushing) is called upon to perform a number of autopsies in the baggage compartment of the train, sawing the heads off corpses and examining their brains.
Before the creature dies, it takes over the body of a policeman and we gradually discover that the frozen beast holds some dark secrets. Turns out he’s not a neanderthal after all. He’s an extra-terrestrial.
Cossack leader Captain Karzan (Telly Savalas) boards the train with his troops and proceeds to chew the scenery with much gusto. Things get even crazier as mad monk Father Pujardov (Alberto de Mendoza) goes berserk, making Rasputin seem sane and sedate by comparison.
Apart from Cushing, Lee and Savalas, the supporting cast is mostly Spanish (it was a British/Spanish co-production) and they all act well in their roles.
Professor Sir Alexander Saxton
Christopher Lee Dr Wells
Peter Cushing Father Pujardov
Alberto de Mendoza Count Maryan Petrovski
George Rigaud Countess Irina Petrovska
Silvia Tortosa Inspector Mirov
Julio Peña Yevtushenko
Ángel del Pozo Natasha
Helga Liné Miss Jones
Alice Reinheart Konev the Conductor
José Jaspe Baggage Man
Víctor Israel Miss Bennett
Faith Clift Creature
Juan Olaguivel Grashinski the Locksmith
Hiroshi Kitatawa Station Master
Vicente Roca Vorkin
José Marco Captain O’Hagan
Allen Russell Captain Kazan
Telly Savalas
Before the creature dies, it takes over the body of a policeman and we gradually discover that the frozen beast holds some dark secrets. Turns out he’s not a neanderthal after all. He’s an extra-terrestrial.
