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
Director
Eugenio Martín
Video
Related Posts
Young Frankenstein (1974) Dr Frankenstein's grandson, Frederick von Frankenstein, reluctantly decides to follow in his ancestor's footprints in Mel Brooks' affectionate parody of horror…
Ruling Class, The (1972) The 13th Earl of Gurney (Harry Andrews) dies after a spot of auto-erotic asphyxiation-gone wrong). The reading of the will…
Incense for the Damned (1971) Tony Seymore (Alexander Davion) relates the story of how he was asked to investigate the whereabouts of Richard Fountain (Patrick…
Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) American TV producer Hunt Stromberg Jnr. wanted to make a definitive version of the Frankenstein story which was faithful to…
Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1959) Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson solve the mystery surrounding the death of a baronet on bleak, forbidding Dartmoor and save…
And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973) Set in 1795, Catherine (Stephanie Beacham) has married the wealthy baron Charles Fengriffen (Ian Ogilvy) and moved into his grand…
From Beyond the Grave (1973) From Beyond the Grave - originally titled The Undead and also known as The Creatures, Tales from Beyond the Grave,…
One More Time (1970) This sequel to Salt and Pepper (1968) has middle-aged swingers Charles Salt (Sammy Davis Jr) and Christopher Pepper (Peter Lawford) falling on…
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.
