Death Line

Plot synopsis:
Gary Sherman's Death Line is one of those little-seen, long-forgotten 1970s horror films that's still championed by its core of fans. When the film was shown as part of a horror series at Lincoln Center in 2002, director Guillermo Del Toro (The Devil's Backbone) pronounced it one of his all-time favorites. In the film, Patricia (Sharon Gurney) and her American boyfriend, Alex (David Ladd, son of actor/producer Alan Ladd), find an important government official apparently unconscious on the stairs of a London Underground station. By the time they locate a cop to investigate, the body is gone. The sarcastically cynical Inspector Calhoun (Donald Pleasence) and his right-hand man, Rogers (Norman Rossington), take on the case. The culprit turns out to be a deranged man (Hugh Armstrong), the descendent of tunnel workers who were trapped in a cave-in and abandoned by the government at the turn of the century. "The Man" lives in the abandoned tunnel with his mate, "the Woman" (June Turner), and ventures into the Underground proper only to find hapless human victims and bring them back to their decrepit lair for food. When his mate dies, the Man goes in search of another. Put-off by Alex's lack of compassion, Patricia splits up with him, venturing into a train station alone, and before long, she finds herself in the underground hellhole. Christopher Lee makes a cameo appearance as an officious, meddlesome MI5. Much to Sherman's chagrin, his film was re-edited by the producers and released to American grind houses under the title Raw Meat. It was shown in Britain in its original form, under its original title. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Tags: tragedy, cult, murder

Review:
DEATH LINE (USA: Raw Meat) Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Sound format: MonoTrapped by falling masonry during construction of the London Underground, a group of Victorian workers survive in the bowels of the earth for more than a century, breeding amongst themselves and cannibalizing the dead.
A hundred years after their ordeal began, the last remaining descendant (Hugh Armstrong) finds his way back to the surface and begins to abduct people from station platforms in a desperate bid for food and companionship...With its unique premise and uncompromising attention to grisly detail, Gary Sherman's directorial feature debut has gained something of a cult reputation over the years, and not without good reason.
Dominated by Donald Pleasence's central performance as a cynical copper who treats everyone - innocent and guilty alike - with equal contempt, the film strikes a precarious balance between eccentricity and horror, reaching its emotional highpoint during scenes depicting Armstrong's ghoulish underground 'home', strewn with rotting corpses.
Art direction (by Denis Gordon-Orr) and cinematography (by veteran Alex Thomson) are uniformly excellent, generating a vivid illusion of ancient decay, and the production benefits from atmospheric location work in abandoned train stations dating back to the Victorian era.Juvenile leads David Ladd and Sharon Gurney are a dreary pair, and they're completely overshadowed by Pleasence's crowd-pleasing theatrics, but the film survives by virtue of its distinctive plot line and extraordinary setting, and there's at least ONE good scare that will lift viewers right out of their seats!
Raw Meat also titled Subhumans is a classic horror movie about terrible happenings occur at London underground.
And , of course, a brief intervention by the great Christopher Lee in a suspect role as a meddlesome MI5 agent .The movie has an acceptable production design plenty of decrepit lairs, dark tunnels , eerie skeletons and excellent make-up with crusted , bruised faces .
American director Gary Sherman somehow manages to capture the sight and sounds of '70s England, including a career-best performance by Donald Pleasence (as usual, playing a goodie rather than a baddie, despite popular opinion).Death Line somehow combines immense pathos, gruesome visceral horror, Carry On-style humour and claustrophobic terror into one package.
While the perpetrators are indeed hideous, they are simply trying to survive; meanwhile, '70s London goes on about them as if they didn't exist.Christopher Lee's cameo is pointless, clearly a marketing exercise; it's Pleasence and co-star Norman Rossington who carry the film, grounding this plausible yet outrageous tale in reality.
Police inspector Donald Pleasence (having a LOT of fun with his role) wants to catch him--a young Britsh couple (Sharon Gunrey, David Ladd) try to help until she gets kidnapped by the cannibal...Very low budget, rarely shown horror film.
Christopher Lee has a fun cameo in it and Donald Pleasance just seems to love pulling his leg in that scene.Thankfully, DEATH LINE has been restored and fully uncut released on DVD (as RAW MEAT in the US).
Bankruptcy forced the digging company to abandon the supposedly dead bodies, although some postulated that with pockets of air and enough water, survivors might be alright, as long as they ate each other when the food ran out - the film is also known as Raw Meat in the US.It is, however, in this difference that Death Line finds its most idiosyncratic strength.
Too bad that the movie also decided to throw in some other less interesting characters, also played by some definite less capable actors.Not the best example of British horror from the '70's but the genre fans will probably still be able to enjoy it.5/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/.
The chief police inspector on the case, Calhoun (Donald Pleasence), realizes that he has his hands full, but vows to stick it out, despite the matter now being more in the domain of MI5.This marked the debut fictional theatrical feature for the young American director Gary Sherman, who also came up with the story; he went on to direct such nifty 1980s pictures as "Dead & Buried" and "Vice Squad".
By now, the once-wholly original plot line behind MEAT has been referenced in Gawd-knows how many flicks, from MIMIC to CREEP (which I haven't yet seen) to Clive Barker's short- and-sweet nightmare inducer THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, (which FINALLY made it to the big screen this year.)Things start off as they do in most good horror movies of the period: simply and a little sleazily.
(Fookin' shame, that.)But for such a low budget, Sherman and co-writer Ceri Jones came up with an ingenious plot that allows him to make great use of some of the creepiest settings used in any of the horror films of that time period, and the way the main characters are presented is both unbelievably grotesque and at times even heartbreaking...(I wish I could say why, but I can't, DAMN IT!!!)All I can say is that MEAT can't be recommended highly enough to anybody out there who hasn't yet seen it.
The cavernous underground system is exploited brilliantly for its unsettling potential, and even at a short 84 minutes there's still time for the camera to linger about the darkest nooks and crannies in a couple of creepily extended sequences.The film shows well how society's attitude steadily becomes more callous with each passing year; with the British, according to the American, being behind the U.S. but competing gamely all the time.
I must say different to the "Disappointing 70's horror" review...I strongly disagree to thee point of saying one of the better horrors of the 1970's if not one of the best.I admittedly must start by saying I first encountered "creep" in the cinemas on its initial release and thanks to the ominous setting of Londons underground, i found it to be a thrilling roller-coaster ride,a year or two later i found myself saying differently for the fact i had now seen a film i had been long awaiting to see and that was RAW MEAT (by the title of the region 1 DVD)..Now must keep in mind that this was cannibalism pre-Texas Chainsaw Massacre and therefore has touched on a brutal subject vividly that no other film had at that point.The film features a great mix of shocks and laughs courtesy of Donald Pleasance and Hugh Armstrongs very simple but sympathetic character of THE MAN.
Now when Patricia disappears from the London Underground, now Alex tries to save her from the unknown.Directed by Gary Sherman (Poltergeist 3, Dead and Buried, Wanted:Dead or Alive) made an genuinely disturbing horror film with some good scares and certainly well directed by its first time director.
But "Death Line" also known as "Raw Meat" is a better, if underrated film of the early 1970's.
Lurking in a caved-in and disused tunnel near to the Tube Station is a plague-ravaged cannibal who has remained there since the cave-in years before.Known as Death Line in the UK, this film had completely eluded me until it turned up in the Grindhouse Project.
The set design department should be proud, as everything looks real; the dampness, the stench and the squalor.The horror is not the only factor that makes this a very good film; the script, by Ceri Jones, is full of wit and great subtle touches.
After a construction disaster in 1892 forced successive generations of 'monsters' to live the degraded existence of underground cannibals, the film follows the last surviving male cannibal who survives by abducting passengers from Russell Tube tube station and, er, eating them.But as the film critic Nigel Floyd suggests, 'the film's great achievement is in eliciting sympathy for a creature whose residual capacity for human feeling [tending to his dying wife] is ultimately more moving than horrifying.' The film was also known as 'Raw Meat' (!)..
What we see, are close up 'arty shots' of strip bar entrances, out of focus, heavily blurred, serving as a colourful backdrop to the long intro credit sequence, during which the music loops, and grates after a while.The film takes the viewer to Russell Square underground train station, both outside at night and inside through tunnels, on platforms, abandoned parts filled with huge arches and rubble.
7/10 is about right.Cast performances: Hugh Armstrong, who plays the part of 'The Man' who lives in the London Underground lesser known areas, is rather good at playing what amounts to a caveman like creature that hasn't see light for a while.
I got the impression that the director was told halfway through to stick Christopher in somewhere to add his "star quality" as long as it wasn't any longer than 10 minutes because that's all the budget would allow for.The crumbling state of the London Underground in the 70's is captured for all time including a few bits that are normally hidden from the public and if you ever travelled by tube back then, late at night, you'll know that something just might have been lurking about down there - unfortunately in real life it would have been a lot more scary than this film!.
Gary Sherman's "Death Line" deals with a series of disappearances in the London subways.Short-tempered inspector Donald Pleasence investigates,finding the cannibalistic survivor of a 19th century cave-in noshing on unsuspecting passengers.Norman Rossington is his sidekick and Christopher Lee shows up as a nasty M.I.5 man."Death Line" offers some gruesome images of cannibalized corpses and a healthy dose of blood.The dank charnel-house production design adds chills to what is basically a rather leisurely police procedural and Pleasence is hilarious at times.The most interesting aspect is that "Death Line" was obviously the main source of inspiration for Christopher Smith's successful horror film "Creep".Overall,"Raw Meat" is not as chillingly effective and gruesome as "Dead and Buried",but fans of British horror should give it a look..
This slab of grisly early '70s goodness comes hot off the grill from director Gary Sherman, who would go on to direct "Poltergeist III" and the little-seen "Dead & Buried." The film stars the inimitable Donald Pleasence as an inspector sent into the dark and dank recesses of London's subway system in search of a missing person.
Before C.H.U.D. and other horror films that dealt with terrors that lived in the "underground" there was Death Line (arguably Director Gary Sherman's best film).I saw Death Line (a.k.a. Raw Meat) at a midnight movie (1973) on a double bill with Theater Of Blood, and was floored by the performances of Donald Pleasence and Hugh Armstrong.
There is everything to satisfy any fan of the genre; some great jumps, gore, cannibalism, carnage, humor, great story, great acting, and a nice looking 70's British girl.Death Line (recently featured in Fangoria Issue #221 complete with a lengthy article and full color photos) is by far one of the most overlooked and underrated horror films of the early 1970's.
An oddball little British horror with a fine performance by Donald Pleasance, an intriguing concept, and of course that outrageous tracking shot - the highpoint of the film.Composer of the soundtrack Wil Malone might be of interest to obscure music fans: he was slightly better known as a member of the UK psych band Orange Bicycle, and then as main member of the group Motherlight who released one supreme underground classic unsettling psychedelic lp in 1970.
Death Line is an enjoyable British chiller from 1972 and I taped this when BBC1 screened it during the small hours some years ago.A series of murders that all take place at Russell Square Underground station baffle police.
Eventually, the tea loving inspector leading the case heads down there to investigate these strange happenings.This movie is quite creepy in parts, especially the scenes of Russell Square station deserted.The cast includes Donald Pleasence (Halloween, You Only Live Twice), Christopher Lee (Dracula, The Man with The Golden Gun) who only appears too briefly, Norman Rossington, David Ladd, Clive Swift (Keeping Up Appearances) and James Cussins.
A great example of early 70's British horror, this film tackles some unpleasant deaths centred around Russell Square underground station.
Unfortunately DEATH LINE isn`t a porn film because if it was it`d probably be a lot better acted , written and edited As I`ve said in previous reviews I`m not really a fan of horror films and watching this it`s easy to see why.
I hate reviews that give away the plot, but let's just say the movie was designed to be a chilling, horrific tale of a group of 100+ year-old tunnel workers trapped under the streets of London, forced to turn to Cannibalism for survival, which mysteriously prolongs their lives...sounds good, right?
Raw Meat (1972) ** (out of 4)British horror film about various people going missing in the subway system so an Inspector (Donald Pleasance) starts an investigation, which turns up an interesting myth.
Death Line AKA Raw Meat is quite a unique little film.Others have described the plot etc.
It's one of those horror films that has a nifty premise as its core subject, it's a bit left field and odd, while it toys with the sympathy of its audience, in short it's a cult movie loved and hated in equal measure!I first encountered Death Line (AKA: Raw Meat) in the late 70s and never really got much from it as a youth.
The couple don't know how to leave unwell enough alone and become more involved as police inspector Donald Pleasence (as Calhoun) and sergeant Norman Rossington (as Rogers) uncover a horrific plot Re-titled "Raw Meat" for American consumption, "Death Line" director Gary Sherman gets off to a good feature film start, with a lot of gore and a some jumpy scenes.
Horror legend Christopher Lee appears briefly.****** Death Line (1972) Gary Sherman ~ Donald Pleasence, Norman Rossington, David Ladd, Sharon Gurney.
DEATH LINE is the only cannibal movie I've seen that portrays its "monster" as a poignant, even tragic figure, yet doesn't soft-peddle the violence and ferocity of his need for human "food."Christopher Lee's cameo is sadly very brief; the plot would've benefited from more MI-5 intrigue, a thread that is introduced but abandoned.By the way, if you don't think the idea of someone living under a subway station is "believable" visit New York City some time.
It's a simple film overall, with several flaws that stop it being recognised as truly great horror, but if you want things uncomplicated enough to wash over with you like the lager and cold Chinese take-away, you can do a lot worse that watching DEATH LINE.
"Death Line", or "Raw Meat" which is an equally appropriate title, is an incredibly strange and usual British horror film of the 1970's.
The British horror scene looked pretty moribund when Gary Sherman's Death Line pulled into UK cinemas in 1972.
The British horror scene looked pretty moribund when Gary Sherman's Death Line pulled into UK cinemas in 1972.
RAW MEAT (1973) is an unusual and genuinely disturbing British 70s Savagery/Cannibal Horror film that no true genre lover should miss.
The film by American director Gary Sherman (who is also known for the 80s Horror classic DEAD & BURIED of 1981) is an adaptation of an original story written by Sherman himself, which was allegedly loosely based on the real-life case of the cannibalistic Beane family in 16th century Scotland.Set in contemporary (70s) London, DEATH LINE is about a cannibal fiend who dwells in the Underground tunnel system.
The menacing and truly scary fiend's persona which is something in-between cannibalistic monster, human being and animal is maybe the most disturbing aspect of the movie.The performances are very good, especially the magnificent Donald Pleasence is once again great in the role of the eccentric and overall not very friendly investigating Scotland Yard Inspector.
His role reminded me of the Italian Gore-classic ANTROPOPHAGUS (1980), to which it may or may not have been inspirational; while I love ANTROPHAGUS, DEATH LINE is much more subtle and intellectual in its explanation of the reasons for people turning to Cannibalism.DEATH LINE is a highly disturbing and unsettling film that nobody who likes true Horror should miss.
Legendary Christopher Lee ("The Wicker Man", "Dracula") also has a small role in the film, which was more than likely included for publicity, because his character has no importance in the plot.
I saw this film on DVD, and it's unrated, so of course it's quite gory, it'll please all of those gore-hounds.Overall, "Raw Meat" is a hidden little gem of a horror movie.
I love British horror movies, I'm a huge fan of Donald Pleasance and Christopher Lee (although the latter has nothing but a glorified cameo), but I don't feel this one lived up to its brilliant premise.It starts off very promising, with a great title sequence, the first attack happens quickly and the mood is set within the first ten minutes.
Inspector Calhoun (Donald Pleasence) is interested in the case because of who Manfred was & starts an investigation & discovers that other's have also mysteriously disappeared at the station, unknown to Calhoun an inbred cannibalistic man lives in the Underground tunnels of an uncompleted station & likes to take unsuspecting train passengers & kill them...More widely known as Raw Meat in the US this British production was directed by Gary Sherman & produced by Paul Maslansky who went on to produced the Police Academy series of films & subsequent television show & gets points for being the first horror film to use the dark, grime filled tunnels of the London Underground as it's main setting the likes of Creep (2004) would go on replicate.
Good overall but not great.Death Line manages to really the early 70's London feel, the dirty Underground tunnels with the dripping water a constant motif are used to very good effect.
Christopher Lee makes a small cameo appearance in one scene.Death Line, or Raw Meat, is a good early 70's British horror set on the grimy London Underground that is maybe a little slow, it has some good moments including some good gore & a great tracking shot but there's a lot of padding to sit through to get to them..