The mini-series Nightsleepermade up of six episodes, offers us a journey that should have promised to be thrilling. A high-speed train derailed by a mysterious cyber-attack, a plot that mixes stereotypical characters, races against time and dialogues bordering on the absurd. The potential is there, but ultimately, Nightsleeper does not deliver on its promises. However, despite its many faults, this series has an undeniable power of attraction which makes it an experience in its own right. The starting postulate of Nightsleeper is simple and effective. A train linking Glasgow to London finds itself under the control of mysterious hackers. Joe (played by Joe Cole), a disgraced former police officer, finds himself unwillingly embarked on an improbable mission to save the passengers. Everything is orchestrated remotely by Abigail (Alexandra Roach), a cybersecurity expert based in London.
If the basic idea seems intriguing and promises a gripping thriller, the execution quickly leaves something to be desired. The word “hackjacked”, invented in the screenplay to designate this type of diversion, seems to be the only innovative idea around which the entire plot revolves. From there, everything unfolds like a series of clichés seen and revisited in the action thriller genre: a solitary hero, an invisible threat, and secondary characters who struggle to arouse empathy. One of the main problems of the series lies in its characters. We are treated to a whole range of stereotypical figures, from the gruff but endearing man to the mysterious young hero. Joe, the central character, is particularly disappointing. Played by Joe Cole, known for his role in Peaky Blindershe seems devoid of emotion throughout the six episodes. This creates a strange disconnect with the supposed tension of the plot.
He lacks depth, and despite his attempts to save the world, it is difficult to really get attached to him. The other passengers on the train are hardly more memorable. They seem straight out of a catalog of stereotypes. The elderly former train conductor, his protective daughter, a muscular rigger, an annoying journalist and, of course, a disgraced transport secretary. These characters could have brought interesting nuances to the plot, but they simply react in predictable ways to the crisis around them. We can note a few moments where Nightsleeper seems to want to change direction and explore more original avenues. We think in particular of a brief allusion to a style Agatha Christiewhere each passenger could have become a potential suspect in a more psychological plot. Unfortunately, the series quickly reverts to its initial pattern, thus missing an opportunity to stand out.
Nightsleeper attempts to keep the viewer in suspense with its many moments of suspense, but the repetition of the same story lines ends up tiring. The dialogues are often laughable, and certain action scenes are sorely lacking in realism. For example, the fact that everyone on the train seems to discover a potential bomb with expressions of forced surprise borders on the absurd. The level of plot inconsistency exceeds even what one could tolerate in an action thriller. For example, why doesn’t anyone think to knock on the driver’s cabin door when communications are down? Why does a group of hackers manage to take control of a train with such ease when cybersecurity is supposed to be strengthened? These questions, and many more, remain unanswered throughout the episodes.
The moments where the series attempts to instill realism are all the more frustrating because they are contradicted by implausible scriptwriting decisions. One example is the fact that the cybersecurity technical team takes threats lightly before realizing that they affect such critical infrastructure as the railway network. Despite its many flaws, Nightsleeper succeeds in capturing the viewer’s attention. It may seem paradoxical, but the series has this ability to hook us despite its absurdity. The cliffhangers at the end of each episode work perfectly for those who like to string episodes together in one go. We find ourselves caught in a sort of fascination with a disaster that we can’t help but watch. This reminds me of the double TV movie Atomic Train (1999) with Rob Lowe. It was fun and I would have liked that Nightsleeper looks more like that than this mix that doesn’t always know what it wants to be between action, poorly written dramatic moments and poorly developed characters.
In other words, the series is built to be consumed quickly, without much thought. If we manage to put aside the inconsistencies, the lack of character depth and the clumsy dialogues, there is something undeniably entertaining about this race against time to avoid a train disaster. From the point of view of implementation, Nightsleeper also fails to distinguish itself. Action scenes are often filmed in a conventional manner, without any real visual creativity. The settings, mainly limited to the interior of the train, eventually become monotonous. It’s unfortunate that the series doesn’t make better use of its main setting to create a more oppressive or immersive atmosphere. On the other hand, the music and sound effects, although discreet, help maintain a certain tension. However, they fail to compensate for the weaknesses of the script and direction.
Nightsleeper borrows from several great classics of the genre, but without ever really reaching the same level. We think of Bodyguardfor the terrorist threat aspect, Hijack with its diverted mode of transport, or even to 24 with its real-time narration. These comparisons show to what extent the series struggles to assert itself with its own identity. She seems to want to take inspiration from everything without ever offering anything new. The end result is a series that struggles to convince as a thriller and lacks the subtlety necessary to become a classic of the genre. However, Nightsleeper can satisfy those looking for entertainment without the hassle, provided you are not too careful about the logic of the plot. Ultimately, Nightsleeper is an imperfect mini-series, full of contradictions. It mixes moments of tension with laughable dialogue, under-exploited characters and an implausible plot.
However, it has an undeniable appeal, probably due to its format designed for binge-watching and its ability to maintain a certain form of suspense, however absurd it may be. If you’re looking for an intense, well-crafted thriller, Nightsleeper probably won’t be your cup of tea. But if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and let yourself be carried away by the incredible plot, you might just find yourself binging all six episodes in one sitting, even if, in the end, the journey may not have was as memorable as expected.
Note : 4.5/10. In short, a train journey of no return, between tension and absurdity.
Available on TF1+
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