The ‘Afterlife Express’ Horror Trope, Explained

gamerant.com:

While trains are a fun form of transportation, and depending on the scenery outside the window, can result in some breathtaking and beautiful views, these vehicles can be used in a terrifying way in the horror genre. The «Afterlife Express» horror trope is used in many movies and TV shows and often looks ghostly and eerie, fitting into the overall tone of the movie perfectly.

Train rides might be pleasant and enjoyable, giving people the chance to sit back and relax and listen to music or a podcast or read a good book, when a train is used in the horror genre, it's a very different scenario.

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According to TV Tropes, the «Afterlife Express» horror trope is like a «vehicular version of The Grim Reaper.» When these trains appear in horror TV shows and movies, they are creepy or evil and don't follow a schedule. Ghosts will often board these trains and be moved to the afterlife, which explains the title of the trope. TV Tropes notes that the souls who are on the train aren't in charge at all, as the train is going one place only, and there is often a «spooky train whistle.» Sometimes audiences will see the conductor who is in charge of the train, and he's a fun part of this trope.

TV Tropes notes that The Frighteners has an «Afterlife Express» train that travels to Hell. Its appearance is that of a big worm. This is definitely a unique way of using the trope as the train does often look like an actual train but not here. Released in 1996, the movie is about Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) whose wife Debra (Angela Bloomfield) passes away in a car crash. Frank is now able to see spirits. A forgotten '90s horror movie that isn't mentioned much, The Frighteners effectively