The Girl On The Train. There are so many words to play with. Does it stay on track or does it go off the rails? Train wreck or first class? There are so many words to play with from author Paula Hawkins too, however it doesn't quite live up to the hype train. You're in for a partially disruptive ride...

This is a mystery involving a missing woman, complicated relationships and an alcoholic divorcee who rides the train, gazing out the window and people-watching. Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) goes one step further (cos let's face it, we all window watch), stalking her ex-husband's new family and becoming fascinated/obsessed with their 'perfect' neighbours. Of course, nobody's perfect, and Megan (Haley Bennett) is no different. Naturally, she's hiding secrets. They all are. As the plot unravels, it's not the only thing that unravels because this is a far from perfect film. Whodunnit?!

One of my main immediate problems afterwards concerned Rachel's fascination with the picture perfect #couplegoals couple, Megan and Scott Hipwell (Luke Evans). For it to be such a crucial part of the film, and lead to x, y, z consequences, it needs to be a crucial part of the film. And this never materialises. Rachel passes the dreamhouse, like, a few times and just kinda stares a bit; that's nothing. The basis for so much jealousy is understandable, but not presented clearly enough. I sometimes see the same people on my commute to work but it doesn't make me obsessed. Much more dedicated screen time was needed to forge a vaguely believable trigger. Also, is it believable that Megan just hangs out in her undies in her garden where she knows trains are passing by all day, every day? Elsewhere, key pivotal moments are rushed, and there are other moments where it can borderline feel like a low budget independent horror movie.

It manages to hold the tension, but only just, as the film seems to chug along quite slowly. If you don't know much about the plot, you'll be waiting and waiting on the platform and might not even care by the end. For those who haven't read the book but have heard the hype, it would probably linger towards the confusing end of the spectrum. The game and mystery is given away quickly relative to the book if you can pick up the clues.

I've given this three stars, however, so it's not all red signals or off-track. Emily Blunt is by far the highlight of the film, showcasing her vulnerable side and portraying a very realistic alcoholic in a drunk state. She's also talented at delivering monologues, something she does a fair bit since the film does so heavily rely on them. It tells the story, story by story. She's a conflicted character, and juggles the difficult layers extremely well. And to think Blunt was pregnant when she filmed it. The supporting cast have also been chosen well. Haley Bennett gets the 'vacant eyes' hollow look spot on, and I compare that to her role as Kora in her first film Music and Lyrics and think she's come a long way. Rebecca Ferguson is so good as new wife Anna I didn't realise it was her (she goes blonde). There's also Justin Theroux as ex-husband Tom, able to solidly portray an array of emotions, and a nice unexpected cameo from Lisa Kudrow.

It doesn't match up to the book, but the films are rarely as good, right? The first main difference is that the setting's been moved from London to New York for ya'know, whatever reason. So if you're a die-hard fan of the book, don't expect fireworks. Perhaps the story is a bit dry and one dimensional for the big screen. The tagline "What did she see?" has been plastered everywhere, but all you need to do is watch the trailer and you know exactly what she saw. As a page-turner, it's gripping and took me a mere few hours to read, but unlike mystery fiction like Gone Girl, it is far more straightforward. The characters are also not meant to be that likeable so it doesn't do much to develop them; as a result we don't feel for them as often as we ought to.

All in all, there are some intriguing twists and turns, and I'd love to watch the film without having known the plot beforehand. The flashbacks are eerie and creepy and made me shut my eyes in my seat (longing for a cushion to hide behind), so it does deliver on that thriller feeling. And Emily Blunt delivers in every scene. For whatever reason, at least you'll be on the edge of your seat.

The Girl On The Train is in cinemas now.