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Death Line
A cave-in during construction of the London Underground seals a group of workers in forever. Abandoned to their own devices they feed on each other to survive. Transformed by plague, incest, and disease their descendants emerge as cannibalistic beings with a language of only three words: "Mind the doors!"
As the last of the underground men loses his mate to a wasting disease he is compelled to seek food, and a new bride, from the platforms above. With his debut feature, Gary Sherman - like George Romero, Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper - channels his despair and anger at the cultural and political zeitgeist to create a confrontational low-budget genre movie that lashes out at the conservative establishment. In every possible way Death Line is an underground classic.
Despite an increasing amount of critical support and high profile fans Gary Sherman's Death Line remains something of an anomaly in British Horror Cinema, an ugly duckling; its face doesn't quite fit. Made on a shoestring budget in early 1972, its initial reviews were divided, the Daily Mail called it a sick and sick-making film . Despite a successful London run, the film seemed destined to be an eccentric but mostly forgotten genre footnote (it was recut and retitled as Raw Meat in America). And yet, it has survived and, in recent years, thrived; rediscovered and embraced by new generations of genre fans who recognise that this satirically angry critique of the English class system feels far more like a spiritual cousin to the '70s American New Wave of Horror than the traditional Hammer gothics and cosy Amicus chills that were the norm in Britain at the time.
And the ace up its ragged, dirty sleeve? It's funny too, with a performance by Donald Pleasence unlike anything else in the genre. Perhaps only The Texas Chain Saw Massacre attempts anything similar in its mix of black comedy and visceral cannibal slaughter, and even then, Death Line is both funnier and more overtly gory than Tobe Hooper's subsequent film. Join Sean Hogan as he leads you deep into the tunnels under London to examine a genre classic.
As the last of the underground men loses his mate to a wasting disease he is compelled to seek food, and a new bride, from the platforms above. With his debut feature, Gary Sherman - like George Romero, Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper - channels his despair and anger at the cultural and political zeitgeist to create a confrontational low-budget genre movie that lashes out at the conservative establishment. In every possible way Death Line is an underground classic.
Despite an increasing amount of critical support and high profile fans Gary Sherman's Death Line remains something of an anomaly in British Horror Cinema, an ugly duckling; its face doesn't quite fit. Made on a shoestring budget in early 1972, its initial reviews were divided, the Daily Mail called it a sick and sick-making film . Despite a successful London run, the film seemed destined to be an eccentric but mostly forgotten genre footnote (it was recut and retitled as Raw Meat in America). And yet, it has survived and, in recent years, thrived; rediscovered and embraced by new generations of genre fans who recognise that this satirically angry critique of the English class system feels far more like a spiritual cousin to the '70s American New Wave of Horror than the traditional Hammer gothics and cosy Amicus chills that were the norm in Britain at the time.
And the ace up its ragged, dirty sleeve? It's funny too, with a performance by Donald Pleasence unlike anything else in the genre. Perhaps only The Texas Chain Saw Massacre attempts anything similar in its mix of black comedy and visceral cannibal slaughter, and even then, Death Line is both funnier and more overtly gory than Tobe Hooper's subsequent film. Join Sean Hogan as he leads you deep into the tunnels under London to examine a genre classic.
- GenresFilm
118 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 9, 2026
Hogan, Sean - Death Line
Imaginative journey into the 1972 shocker, sadly bungled Stateside and forgotten.
The first section “recreates” the journal of Inspector Calhoun, before, during, and following the horrific events. The snarling bile and seething resentment of the man is on full display. Hogan captures his voice, the reading is funny, sad, worrying, appropriate.
While Calhoun has his own patch, his manor, nearby crimes are referenced that classic Horror film buffs will recognize. The necktie murders, incidents at Hobbs End, for example.
Section two delves into characters, particularly the lack of a sympathetic lead. The dissection of the class system, the dismissive disdain of the lower orders, the black humor.
The final section is an interview between Hogan and director Gary Sherman. Insightful, entertaining, and both men stay on topic. Not always a given.
Needless to write, a delight for fans of the film, as are most in the Midnight Monograph series.
Imaginative journey into the 1972 shocker, sadly bungled Stateside and forgotten.
The first section “recreates” the journal of Inspector Calhoun, before, during, and following the horrific events. The snarling bile and seething resentment of the man is on full display. Hogan captures his voice, the reading is funny, sad, worrying, appropriate.
While Calhoun has his own patch, his manor, nearby crimes are referenced that classic Horror film buffs will recognize. The necktie murders, incidents at Hobbs End, for example.
Section two delves into characters, particularly the lack of a sympathetic lead. The dissection of the class system, the dismissive disdain of the lower orders, the black humor.
The final section is an interview between Hogan and director Gary Sherman. Insightful, entertaining, and both men stay on topic. Not always a given.
Needless to write, a delight for fans of the film, as are most in the Midnight Monograph series.
October 21, 2023
A standout in Electric Dreamhouse's excellent Midnight Movie Monograph series. The highlight is a beautifully crafted first person postscript to the film itself, finding immense humour and pathos in the personal and professional life of Donald Pleasence's unforgettable Inspector Calhoun, before and after the discovery of the "Man". It's a great companion to the film itself, about which Hogan also offers an affectionate, thoughtful analysis along with an insightful interview with director Gary Sherman.
September 12, 2024
Part of the Midnight Movie Monograph series of books this one is about the 1972 British cult horror film "death line" aka "raw meat" and includes a introduction, a really great piece of short fiction written as a diary entries of Donald Pleasence's police inspector character in the film which goes past the actual film's conclusion, an analysis of the film, and finally a interview with the director of the film!
Good stuff for sure!
Good stuff for sure!
December 27, 2020
Sean Hogan is a fantastic writer and this set the scene nicely for his future works
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews