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.

It’s a first effort from Christopher Smith with both pen and megaphone though, making Creep a relative success. The main cast is good (Sean Harris’ twisted monster more than just hideous make-up) and a distinct lack of Hollywood cheese so welcome in an much abused genre. The end itself has a nice touch, but ultimately fails to disguise that Creep went off the rails about half an hour earlier.

Released by Pathé Distribution
28 January 2005
Running time
86mins Cert: 18