Fingerprints came out in 2006 and tackled one of the many urban legends in American society. The film saw its release during Screamfest of that year. The Urban Legend this film tackled is one out of San Antonio, Texas. What exactly is the legend?
Well, it is said that a busload of children broke down on top of a railroad crossing as a train was coming. They were unable to get out, and all were killed when the train crashed into their bus on the railroad tracks. The ghosts of these children are said to now push disabled cars off the track to avoid the same thing from happening again.
The film opens by showing the viewer what may have happened back in 1957, but in this case, it is the small town of Emerald, Texas. We are introduced to sisters Crystal (Kristin Cavallari) and Melanie (Leah Pipes) who are on their way back to the new family home. Crystal stops at the local abandoned train station and tells Melanie of the local legend. As they wait to see if their small car will be pushed Melanie looks out the window and sees a small girl playing on the tracks. As they await a loud noise breaks them out of their self-induced spell, and the girls continue on home.
The little girl that they see is later determined to be Julie, a ghost from that accident. Julie will become a bit of a small fixture in the film as strange things start to happen around town. There are not just strange things, but potentially much worse.
Upon reaching home we find out that Melanie had been away from the family for some time in rehab. Her father seems well enough and is putting things behind her, but her mother, well she seems to hold onto the issue more. We are later introduced to some of Melanie’s future classmates at a local party and later at school.
The film progresses and suddenly those close to Melanie start to meet with a dark fate. They are being murdered, and not just by a “usual” suspect. In the case of the film, it’s someone in a conductor’s uniform.
The cast included some notable names, including those of Sally Kirkland, Lou Diamond Phillips, and character actor Geoffry Lewis.
I should add that Fingerprints was not a film made by a major motion picture company. It does have that independent film feeling to it, but is an enjoyable movie. I’m sure some may compare it to a form of the popular teen slasher genre films around that time. Those who like the type of films based on an Urban Legend will enjoy it. There is also the suspense and drama that comes along from this film which was directed by Harry Basil.