DEATH LINE is a grim and ghastly slice of British horror that's only suitable for acquired tastes. By that I mean that it's a slow-moving affair, almost ponderous at times, that nonetheless offers up some moments of stark, graphic horror that are among the strongest you'll find in 1970s cinema; think Pete Walker, think the video nasties boom, and you'll be there; it's no surprise that this was heavily censored when first released on video. It's the first of the small sub-genre of horror films set beneath the city streets, with C.H.U.D. a notable follow up and CREEP a pure rip-off of this. The nasty ghastliness is offset by a delightful double act consisting of Donald Pleasence and Norman Rossington, who supply laughs aplenty. The film's slow pacing is bolstered by tons of atmosphere and creepy scenes shot in real-life abandoned locations; the end result is unsettling in the extreme.
Review of Death Line
