A church-going Iowa couple has just finished missionary work in China and is headed home via the Transsiberian railway. Roy (Woody Harrelson) loves trains. Jessie (Emily Mortimer), who we learn has an alcoholic past, wants a bit of adventure. They get more than they bargained for.

They meet a young adventurous couple on the train: He's Carlos (Eduardo Noriega), a charming, raffish Spaniard; she's Abby (Kate Mara), a 20-year-old American runaway from Seattle who clearly bears psychic wounds. They seem to be up to something sinister.

Jessie senses danger long before here clueless husband, who thinks being an American gives him a free pass all over the world.

The movie opens in Moscow, where we see police detective Grinko (Ben Kingsley) investigating a double murder of two gangsters. A big stash of heroin is also missing. Hmmm. Who has that heroin now?

Back in Siberia (actually Lithuania), things are getting tense aboard the train. The charming Spaniard is making a subtle play for Jessie. Outside, endless miles of frozen forests. Inside, raucous Russians downing vodka, comparing scars, smoking and singing. The railroad "hostesses" live in a constant state of pissed-offness toward the passengers. Amtrak it ain't.

The first half of this movie is fairly slow as we get to know the characters. Then, during a layover at a remote village, an incident happens that puts the movie into total, nail-biting overdrive. The second half is as gripping as any movie I've ever seen. As riveting as anything Hitchcock has ever done ... and this is from a major Hitchcock fan.

Warning: late in the movie there is a torture sequence of a woman that caused a few in the audience I saw it with walk out.

I'm sorry they walked out. The final sequence is a scene of absolute, though non-violent, reciprocity.

Strangers on a strange train. I hope this movie makes it to a large audience of suspense movie lovers. They won't be disappointed.