Leon (Bradley Cooper) is a photographer specializing in rather gritty subject matter. He longs to show the "true heart" of the urban jungle. Meanwhile, a madman stalks the subway system, murdering the unwary with a big hammer. When these two men's lives intersect, Leon sees his chance to attain his dream.
Not surprisingly, Leon gets deeply involved in things he should simply leave alone, resulting in growing suspense, and ultimately leading to a horror beyond his ability to comprehend it.
THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN is a fine adaptation of the short story by Clive Barker. It expands on the tale while keeping its grisly, disturbing nature intact. Cooper is well cast in his role, as is Vinnie Jones as the brutal, one-man abattoir known as Mahogany.
Co-stars Leslie Bibb as Leon's increasingly concerned girlfriend, Maya, and Roger Bart as their friend Jurgis. Brooke Shields has a small but effective cameo as art gallery owner, Susan Hoff.
ONE CAVEAT: The use of CGI blood is jarringly fake in some scenes. This is unfortunate and rather bizarre, since, in several scenes, the floor, walls, etc. are already covered in gallons of actual stage blood. Other than that, this is a gore classic with a memorably bleak finale...