Raw Meat
AKA Death Line
Directed by Gary Sherman
Released: 1972
Starring: Donald Pleasence, David Ladd, Sharon Gurney, and Hugh Armstrong
Running time: 87 minutes
Reviewed by Eric Grubbs

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At the turn of the century, a construction accident in London’s subway system traps several people. With no funding to dig the people out, the construction company presumes they are dead and abandons all rescue attempts. Years later, Alex Campbell (played by David Ladd), an American student, and Patricia Wilson (Sharon Gurney), his English girlfriend, fall prey to a cannibalistic madman that may be the evidence of the actual fate of those trapped below London’s streets. The understandably skeptical Police Inspector Calhoun (played by Donald Pleasence) leads his investigation underground only after a prominent civil servant disappears.

Known as Death Line in England and Raw Meat in the US, Gary Sherman’s 1972 film is more a detective thriller than a gross-out murder fest. There are a few jumps with the kills and even some decent gore setpieces, but this isn’t a gotcha! type of movie. Though it is quite farfetched, there is actual substance to the film even though it seems like a routine detective story. A character asks how cannibals could live under such primitive circumstances. The deal is you can also ask how people trapped in stale, boring, and lonely lives above ground could live their lives. In both cases, it’s about survival given the circumstances.

Donald Pleasence’s role as a brash-but-funny chief police inspector is one of the film’s strongest points. He plays a vastly different character than the haunted Sam Loomis character he would gain popularity with in the Halloween movies. Watching Death Line reminds us of how great and versatile an actor he was beyond his role as Michael Myers’ psychiatrist.

What helps the film's legacy is how good it still looks very good and how well it’s directed. Early on, there’s an eye-catching long tracking shot showing a full 360-degree view of the underground layer. Plus, the sets look real and believable, not phony and cheap like many of the film’s horror contemporaries. The acting is strong all around, especially with Pleasence. Look for a very brief but ominous cameo by Christopher Lee.