It all begins when advertising creative director Charles Schine misses his train to work. He catches the next one, and finds himself sitting opposite a beautiful woman.

Lucinda Harris is charming, beautiful and a good listener. Too good to be true in fact.

Despite being happily married, he finds himself instantly attracted. And the feeling is mutual.

The pair begin a "relationship" - cocktails, meals and so on. The affair culminates in an assignation at a New York hotel, which is where Charles's nightmare begins. An armed man bursts in, beats up Charles and rapes his date.

He then blackmails Charles, saying he will tell his wife and diabetic teenage daughter about the affair.

Not wanting to shatter his family, Charles pays up at first, but when more and more money is demanded he decides to fight back - with disastrous consequences.

Derailed moves with relentless pace and energy. Be prepared to stay up all night to finish it.

Updated: 09:05 Saturday, March 19, 2005