‘Snowpiercer’ Might Be the Best Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller About a Perpetual Motion Train Ever

You probably already know that Transformers 4 opens this weekend, and if you like franchise movies with lots of shiny explosions that don't require you to think, you should probably just go see that. I'm sure it's just great.

That being said, if you're looking for a sci-fi flick that's as original and clever as it is thrilling, you should know there is another option: Snowpiercer.

Snowpiercer stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, and Jamie Bell. It is the first English language film of The Host director Joon-ho Bong, and after a protracted struggle with American distributor Harvey Weinstein (via Radius TWC) over the two-and-a-half hour running time, it's finally getting a limited release this weekend. And that's very good news, because critics around the globe love this film.

As for what Snowpiercer is about...well, actually, I'm not going to attempt to describe it in my own words, because that's hard. Instead, here's the official description:

It's been 17 years since we froze the earth. The few remaining humans live on the Snowpiercer, a train on an infinite loop around the globe. For those at the front, it's a lavish paradise of drugs and sushi in the lap of luxury; for those trapped in the tail section, life is short and cruel.

But change is in the air. Curtis (Chris Evans), desperate to escape the tail of the train, plans an uprising, aided by his mentor Gilliam (John Hurt). What begins as an isolated riot explodes into a mass revolution, an all-or-nothing push to the front of the train, and a war for humanity's future. Who will live and who will die? How far can they go? Is there hope beyond the frozen wastes?

You can also take a look at the trailer. As you'll see, it looks like a cross between The Day After Tomorrow, The Hunger Games, and Throw Momma from the Train:

See? Doesn't Snowpiercer look way cooler than Transformers 4?