Creep (2004/I)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Christopher Smith

Writer:

Christopher Smith (written by)

Release Date:

28 January 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil Dwells Underground.

Plot:

Trapped in a London subway station, a woman who's being pursued by a potential attacker heads into the unknown labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city's streets.

Plot Keywords:

Underground | Tunnel | London Underground | Subway | Acquaintance

Cast

Franka Potente	...	Kate
Vas Blackwood	...	George
Ken Campbell	...	Arthur
Jeremy Sheffield	...	Guy
Paul Rattray	...	Jimmy
Kelly Scott	...	Mandy
Sean Harris	...	Craig
Kathryn Gilfeather	...	Girl
Grant Ibbs	...	Man
Joe Anderson	...	Male Model
Sean De Vrind	...	Friend
Ian Duncan	...	Friend
Debora Weston	...	Mya
Emily Gilchrist	...	Karen
Craig Fackrell	...	Homeless Guy

Also Known As:

Creep (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody horror violence, language, some drug use and sexual content.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:R | Taiwan:R-18 | USA:R (cut) | Netherlands:16 | Hong Kong:III | Argentina:16 | Norway:15 | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:18A (Manitoba) | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Italy:VM18 | France:-16 | Italy:VM14 | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | UK:18 | Philippines:R-13 | Finland:K-18

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

UK Film Council

Trivia:

Franka Potente dubbed her own voice in the German Version.

Goofs:

Continuity: The unexpected train that Kate boards at Charing Cross and where she is followed by Guy is a 1996 Stock Jubilee Line train. When she runs into the cab and gets out of the train into the tunnel the train has switched to a 1972 Stock Train.

Quotes:

Jimmy: So what are you, French?
Kate: No, I'm German.
Jimmy: German? I support Germany when they're playing against England at football. Come to think of it I support anyone who's playing against England at football.

Movie Connections:

References An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Effectively made horror thriller

STAR RATING: ***** Unmissable **** Very Good *** Okay ** You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead * Avoid At All Costs

Stuck-up career bitch Kate (Franka Potente) heads to the London underground to catch a train to take her to meet George Clooney. However, after a hectic working day, she dozes off and awakens to find herself alone in a deserted platform. As she races off on a situation taking her from one daunting encounter to the next, however, she learns of something far more malign and evil waiting for her out there.

In a lot of ways, the British Film Industry is really becoming one on it's own, especially in the horror thriller department, with films such as Creep and the successful 28 Days Later (which this has strong echoes of in parts.) In terms of succeeding in what it set out to do, Creep does cleverly create (especially at the beginning) a scary sense of isolation and tense fear. At it's clever running time, it also (though inadvertently, I suspect) manages to pay homage to some of those pioneer high-concept horror films from the 70s that rely on shocks and fear through-out without really focusing too much on character development and such.

Of it's weaknesses, some scenes are a little predictable, but these don't really succeed in making it less scary or effective in any way. I'm not sure if the ending was meant to make it come off as some sort of morality play and it's not exactly perfect, but it's certainly very effective and serves it's basic function very well. ***