The Girl on the Train and The Leftovers: Synergy?

Written By: Missy Ortiz

Hey, Lefties! I finished watching our favorite actor Justin Theroux's new movie, The Girl on the Train and it was extraordinary! The mystery, the drama, the thrill...it all unraveled perfectly. Now, the reason I am bragging about this awesome film on The Living Reminders Blog is because this movie struck many nerves and hit home for me. There were SEVERAL references and similarities that occurred throughout the film that reminded me of The Leftovers. Believe me, when I say this, I had to go straight home and do my research to see if there were any handshakes shared between Damon Lindelof and Tate Taylor, who directed The Girl on the Train. If you haven't seen the movie yet, please do before you read any further because I don't want to spoil anything for you. This is your SPOILER ALERT. For those of you who have seen it, then feel free to agree with me here because you're going to be amazed at how many puns or easter eggs seemed to be intended for us fans of The Leftovers. Check this out Lefties:



Well, since the movie was just released, I don't have many photos to share with you that will correlate with my findings but I will use what I can. Those of you who caught these allusions will understand the meaning of my insinuation of this parallel. In other words, "nods to The Leftovers".

#1. Justin Theroux/Kevin Garvey/Tom Watson
Yes, let's start with the best first. Probably the main reason most of us were anticipating this film, to begin with, our dear Justin Theroux. He not only killed it in this movie, he very much stuck with the Kevin Garvey vibe. There weren't many differences from both characters, well as of yet. He seemed happy, but at the same time, we all know he is troubled. Now the Kevin Garvey we know right now has two tickets to paradise in the post-apocalyptic/purgatory world. We really don't know where he will end up in Season 3, somewhere in Austraila of course, most likely Perth. In this movie, we know where he ends up. The location they chose for this film suited him very well too. In a small town in New York, it resembled Mapleton. The fall leaves surround him as he walks on his driveway to meet with his distraught ex-wife, Rachel. I like the fact that his name is Tom too. Does that ring a bell? Sure! Tom Garvey, his son from The Leftovers.

#2: Departed/Disappearance 
We all know that in The Leftovers, 2% of the world departed into thin air and we still don't know what happened to them, and we probably will never know. Nonetheless, on The Girl on the Train, there is a woman who also "disappears", well, for a while anyway... and the mystery is unreal. The significance of this is so grand because there are investigations going on, and of course, the police are involved because this is more of a crime than anything. However, the lingering subtlety that this woman has disappeared will instantly send shivers down a Lefties' spine. Now, for the record, this woman who "disappeared" is named Megan. OMG. Yes! Megan! Another great catch thank you.

#3: Affairs.
In The Leftovers, we realize that Kevin Garvey had an affair with that woman in the hotel room on the day of the Sudden Departure. In this movie, everyone seems to be sleeping with everyone. Well, let's just say that the woman who disappears has a reputation that she engulfs herself in and that only makes problems for herself. Point being that Kevin Garvey has an affair in The Leftovers, and he's still sleeping around as Tom Watson in The Girl on the Train. Damn, Jen, keep that hotness on a leash!

#4: EVIE.
Yes, Tom Watson's baby's name is EVIE! This really just says it all in the name. Come on folks, are we getting warmer here? Evie was Evangeline's nickname in Season 2 of The Leftovers! Now, yes of course, there is a novel based on this story, and even though I haven't read it yet, I am pretty sure they kept the name of the baby the same. So, Evie in The Leftovers and Evie again in The Girl on the Train. Wow! Connect the dots!

#5: The Psychology of it All
Let's be realistic here. In The Leftovers, Laurie Garvey was a therapist. Kevin Garvey was seeing a therapist. In this film, two of the characters are seeing a therapist too. Not only this but let's also tie in another high point that I found interesting. Rachel is a raging alcoholic. She seems to be going through problems because of her divorce with Tom. She begins to drink more and construct a fixation of traveling on a train and obsessing over her past. Remember Laurie Garvey and how she joined the Guilty Remnant? In this case, there is no GR that we know of, but instead, she turns to alcohol and the train for mending. I don't know, it's similar. The depression and the sadness and the silence. It really connects. Remember Laurie visiting her house late at night on the swing? Yes ladies and gents, this is very much so ironic.

#6: Make a Wish.
Remember that scene in Season 2 when Nora talks to Erika Murphy and she gives her the DSD (Department of Sudden Departure) questionnaire? Many of us recognized an eyelash that had fallen onto her cheek and it stuck to her for the whole scene. Well, on The Girl on the Train, when Megan shows up to her therapist's house, she too has an eyelash that actually is at the same exact spot as Nora's. I mean, this could be coincidental, it's pretty normal to lose eyelashes...but, I beg to differ. Lindelof, were you hiding in The Girl on the Train's writer's room?

#7: Neighborly Garden Decor
Okay, so the Garveys' new $3 Million dollar house has a welcoming front yard garden arbor. Notice anything at the Watson's house? Yup! They have an arbor too. Now, this is the only picture I could find where you could visibly notice it, but when you see the movie you'll see the realism of it all.

#8: The Memorials
The Living Reminders slogan serves as a purpose everywhere, especially in this association between The Leftovers and The Girl on the Train. There are sculptures in both stories that have compelling meanings behind them. In The Leftovers, the sculpture of the woman and her child are honored on Heroes' Day in Mapleton, NY. In The Girl on the Train, The Untermeyer Fountain and its sculpture of the three dancing maidens is located in the Conservatory Gardens in Central Park, NY. Even though the statues have different meanings, they are both dramatically presented for us.

#9: The Woods/Cairo
This one is very simple to identify. Seeing Justin Theroux in another eerie woods setting is just far beyond deja vu. There isn't anything here that doesn't scream Cairo. The missing shirts, Dean and the cabin with Patti...it's just all too familiar. Let's root for more wood scenes in Australia!

#10: What is it about Sleep?
Season 1 of The Leftovers, Episode 10, Patti Levin straddles Kevin and tells him to "Wake the fuck up!" Okay, pay close attention to Tom Watson in The Girl on the Train. When they are showing the flashback of him and his ex-wife Rachel, and their arguments...he tells her the exact same thing. Chills guys, chills! I couldn't handle that scene. I literally freaked out in the theater when he said that line. WHOA!!!

#11: Dogs.
Now, by now, I'm hoping that you all have seen the movie and I haven't spoiled anything. But here is a MAJOR SPOILER ALERT. So, Tom is an abusive husband, right? Cheats on his wives, beats them, bashes their heads in? In the scene where Rachel goes to Tom and Anna's house, he throws vodka in her face and then breaks the glass over her head. When she wakes up from the knockout, he tells her she's "like a dog". “You’re like one of those dogs, the unwanted ones that have been mistreated all their lives. You can kick them and kick them, but they’ll still come back to you, cringing and wagging their tails. Begging. Hoping that this time, it’ll be different, that this time they’ll do something right and you’ll love them. You’re just like that, aren’t you, Rach? You’re a dog.”
Um, does this not remind us of the dog killing sequences in Season 1? Can we get any hotter than this? Ok, one more....

#12: This Time It Isn't Just Gladys' Fault
Poor Gladys. Well, this really was "her" choice, right? In episode 1X05, we witness Gladys being stoned to death in the woods. And yet another stoning takes places as well in The Girl on the Train, and yes, it is in the woods too! It's pretty freakin' gory as well! What a shocking scene! Both of them are mind blowing performances!

Now, I only saw the movie once so far, and I may have missed other innuendos that could possibly be of likeness to The Leftovers. I found 12 and I think that is far way too many as it is. I really enjoyed this film. It was a great thriller, fall movie, that was much needed. Not to mention we are all desperately waiting for Season 3 of The Leftovers and we haven't got one teaser for it! : (
Again, I don't think I gave away too much from The Girl on the Train but if you read my piece and still haven't seen the movie, please, stop what you're doing right now and go see it!!! You won't be disappointed!
Until we meet again, thanks for reading The Living Reminders Blog, and we will try to keep you up to date on the latest news as we near the premiere of The Leftovers Season 3.

What did you think about The Girl on the Train and the found resemblances to The Leftovers? 

Do you want to chat more about The Leftovers? Get your fix by listening to The Living Reminders Podcast with detailed show discussion and amazing interviews with cast, crew, writers, and directors of The Leftovers on HBO.