Creep (2004) Review Country : USA Year: 2004 Genre: Chiller / Horror Format: DVD Running Time: 85 mins Distributor: Pathe Beneath the city lies an evil, a labyrinth of terror in which some unfortunate people find themselves trapped... but is it any good? Credits Written and directed by Christopher Smith, starring Franka Potente as Kate, Vas Blackwood as George, Ken Campbell as Arthur and Paul Rattray as Jimmy. Christopher Smith's chiller 'Creep' just arrived at my doorstep and the Pit of course has all the gory details for you. The story opens on a cute socialite named Kate (Franka Potente) who hears her idol George Clooney is in town. Well of course, she thinks she can track him down and party with him, but winds up falling asleep waiting for her train and ultimately ends up trapped in a London subway station. To escape the closed station, Kate heads into the unknown labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city's street only to find that someone, or something is stalking her every move. Hungry for blood. Apart from Franka Potente's role, the film had very little impact... this is problem #1, but we will get to #2 in a minute. The positives you ask? Well, for a start, the DVD features a gorgeous widescreen transfer which is of paramount importance when one considers that the "creep" (played by Sean Harris) scenes in the film are entirely set in dark underground locations. The 5.1 mix is excellent, and has some really creepy sounds bouncing around the room. In one key scene, Smith skillfully illustrates the existence of this strange subterranean world with a very slow, prolonged shot depicting just how vast the darkness is. It's a bit like 'Raw Meat' meets 'The Cave'. 'Creep' is in no way a simple, by the numbers horror film. Smith's creation as "creep" is hugely affecting, moving, and involving, but really makes no sense what so ever. The background story's strange plausibility adds weight to his character's suffering and when the film reaches it's climax, but we are really never given any explanation as to what, where, or why. Smith said in the commentary that he wants us to feel for "creep", but I wound up wanting to forward through some of the scenes where we are supposed to like him? Is this not a horror film? How could you like this monster? Instead of portraying him merely as a straight forward evil character, Smith develops the role with a whole other dimension which enables us, the viewers, to empathize... well, not me. That is problem #2. It's difficult to blame Smith for such a tacky ending, even if he overdoes it a little. Trust me, by the end of 'Creep', you'll be laughing your ass off. Seriously, this film had it's moments and plenty of potential... even the storyboarded ending with Kate fighting "creep" under a train would have kicked major ass. Instead, Smith goes for the cheap and easy way so "creep" can ultimately look Kate in the eye and be a man!?!? What the fuck was he thinking? It's a shame that such a menacing setting hasn't been used for the genre more often, and then again maybe it isn't. ..we all know how effective the underground station setting was in Landis' An American Werewolf in London. As far as I'm concerned though, the old school 1972 film 'Raw Meat' is the only real London Underground horror film. It was witty, well-acted, nicely shot, had good attention to detail, flat-out funny, poignant (without having a stupid moral), and all on a very low budget. A British Horror Classic, and that's official. 'Creep' on the other hand falls flat on it's face and is not required or even recommended Pit viewing. Avoid unless it hits cable and you are really bored. OFFICIAL SITE DISCUSS ON OUR FORUMS Review by John Gray, for Pitofhorror.com