8 Ways The Girl On The Train Is Just A Lazy Gone Girl

Gone Girl was a vicious movie, taking down the perfect idea of relationships. Amy may be a psychopathic killer, but Nick had broken things down to an astounding degree already; one party’s worse, but neither’s clean. This was summed up perfectly in a final confrontation where the hate-filled pair agree to continue with their facade because “that’s marriage.” It’s black and it’s extreme, but there’s an underlying hint of truth.

The Girl On The Train is trying to provide a meditation on many things – alcoholism, the difference between idea and action, anything but the state of modern public transport really - but it's chief goal is the same. Except, instead of probing into the complex psychology of breakups, the ultimate conclusion is that if you were spurned in a relationship and felt hard done, you were probably in the right and you ex really is a bad person. Rachel discovers that, despite her rampant drunkenness, Tom was a bit of a dick, which seems to exonerate her of all guilt for all the genuinely bad things she did while under the influence. There’s no balancing act or attempt at nuance, just a reinforcement of black-and-white breakups.

That’s the problem with The Girl On The Train. It’s not just a lazy Gone Girl rip-off, but it preaches some rather damaging world views.

Have you seen The Girl On The Train? What did you think? Is it just a poor man's Gone Girl or something more unique? Share your take down in the comments.