Narrow Margin, released in theaters on September 21, 1990, is a gripping and underrated thriller directed by Peter Hyams. It’s a taut, suspenseful film that focuses on a simple but effective premise: two people on the run from killers, trapped on a train in the middle of nowhere. It’s a masterclass in building and sustaining tension, relying on the charisma of its stars, Gene Hackman and Anne Archer.
The refreshingly straightforward plot involves jaded Los Angeles District Attorney, Robert Caulfield (Hackman), is tasked with protecting a crucial witness, Carol Hunnicutt (Archer), who saw mob boss Leo Watts (Harris Yulin) and his enforcer Jack Wooten (Nigel Bennett) murder her date (J.T. Walsh).
To escape the remote location where she had been hiding out – borrowed cabin in the Canadian Rockies – they board a train headed for Vancouver, but they soon discover that the killers, led by the ruthless Wootton and Nelson (James B. Sikking) are also on board.
The rest of the film is a breathless game of cat and mouse as Caulfield and Hunnicutt desperately try to stay one step ahead of the assassins, with every shadow and every passenger a potential threat.
The claustrophobic setting of the train, combined with the scenic but isolated Canadian wilderness, creates a powerful sense of peril and urgency.
Hackman, a master of his craft, delivers a grounded and believable performance as the world-weary prosecutor, while Archer provides a compelling mix of vulnerability and resilience. The chemistry between the two leads is a major factor in the film’s success.
Gene Hackman in Narrow Margin (Photo/TriStar Pictures)
M. Emmet Walsh, Susan Hogan and J.A. Preston round out the cast.
Hyams’ direction is precise and confident, using the train’s confines to maximum effect.
The film is a remake of The Narrow Margin (1952).
Reception for Narrow Margin
Narrow Margin grossed $3.6 million on its opening weekend, finishing in fourth place behind Goodfellas, Postcards from the Edge and Ghost.
The film would gross $10.9 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
Narrow Margin is remembered as being rooted in its a return to classic, old-school filmmaking techniques in an era of big-budget action films, this movie proves that a simple, well-executed premise and strong performances can be just as thrilling.
The filmstands as a fine example of a B-movie elevated by an A-list cast and a director at the top of his game, and it remains a highlight in the late-20th-century thriller genre.
