Creep
The London Underground; the tube – our capital city’s 250 plus miles of mainly antiquated and filthy tracks and tunnels. We hate it. We hang from roof handles like monkeys, jam packed in ancient
rolling stock full of enough sweat to drown an elephant. It’s hell. Well, at least we think it is.
Creep certainly takes it there. Kate (Franka Potente) falls asleep on a platform between parties, misses her last train and gets locked in. Not to worry, a rouge train appears and a work colleague (Guy) is on
it. Except that he’s followed her in the belief that Kate fancies joining the 400 feet under club, and so tries to rape her after rejection. Not having much luck, is our Kate. It gets worse, mid assault, Guy gets dragged out of the carriage
and mauled by some mysterious murderous being. Run Kate, run! And she does, a lot. Homeless people, security guards, sewage workers all run a lot with her as well - not recommended if you fancy spending some of your pension…
And so people die and quite mysteriously at that. And while there’s mystery, there’s suspense and genuinely disturbing moments. Creep delivers this well for an hour, despite not being too inventive
in its horror. However, the setting alone provides some desperately needed originality. It’s an inspired choice and shot with style - the sense of dismay and panic enhanced in such claustrophobic and dank space. As Kate sees potential saviour
after potential saviour taken out in ever more gruesome fashion, the tunnels become smaller, the conditions more filthy and the senses primed. It’s a huge shame then, that when it comes to the crunch, Creep falls into cliché. Too many
characters, too many chases, too much gore and not enough anxiety.
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