Underworld (1985 film)

Underworld is a 1985 British horror film directed by George Pavlou, written by Clive Barker and James Caplin, and starring Denholm Elliott, Nicola Cowper, Steven Berkoff, Larry Lamb, Ingrid Pitt, Irina Brook and Art Malik.
The film's music was produced by Welsh new wave band Freur, which later evolved into the band Underworld, their name taken from the film's title.

Plot

Dr. Savary, a sinister biochemist, has created a subhuman species that dwells in the London Underground. Addicted to Savary's mind-expanding drug, his creations suffer from grotesque disfigurements. The victims' only hope for an antidote lies in kidnapping Nicole, a high-class prostitute. Roy Bain, a fearless adventurer and Nicole's former lover, is hired to save her.

Cast

Denholm Elliott as Dr. Savary
Steven Berkoff as Hugo Motherskille
Larry Lamb as Roy Bain
Miranda Richardson as Oriel
Art Malik as "Fluke"
Nicola Cowper as Nicole
Irina Brook as Bianca
Ingrid Pitt as Pepperdine
Brian Croucher as "Darling"
Trevor Thomas as Ricardo
Sean Chapman as Buchanan
Gary Olsen as "Red Dog"
Phil Davis as Lazarus

Production

Following the rave reviews attained by the Books of Blood, author Clive Barker was approached by George Pavlou to ask if there were any ideas he had to develop as a potential film project. Barker put together a seven page original treatment which Pavlou in turn took to Green Man Productions who had a reputation for fostering up-and-coming talents. Barker stated that he wasn't really a fan of "stalk and slash" style horror films and when he was developing Underworld he aimed to achieve something more in line with the style of a film noir. Barker spoke favorably of his experience on the film and enjoyed listening to the ideas of others and performing rewrites on the fly contrasting it with the largely solitary experience of writing novels and short stories.

Release

After a quick cinema run in the UK, the film was given a limited release in the United States by Empire Pictures in April 1986. Two years later, the film was released on video cassette by Vestron Video.