One of the most gut-wrenching films ever created, Midnight Express is a terrifying portrayal of Billy Hayes’ harrowing escape from a Turkish prison. The unintelligible whispers in Turkish, along with the eerie melody accompanying every scene, set the tone for the hellish chain of events that slowly unravels as the movie progresses.
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And while it’s considered a cinematic masterpiece, it would be a stretch to claim that it’s “based on a true story.” Billy Hayes wasn’t a clean-cut, clueless American backpacker. And it definitely wasn’t his first time in Turkey.
Let’s see what parts of the film remained loyal to Hayes’ tale, and what parts were made up for entertainment value.