Killing Time (public information film)
| Killing Time | |
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| Directed by | Sue Read |
| Produced by | Bernard Morris |
| Distributed by | British Railways Board |
Release dates | 1992 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Killing Time is a 15-minute long film made by British Railways Board in 1992 and was narrated by Tom Conti. Although it is not strictly a Public Information Film, it is often considered to be so by fans of the genre. The film, which was shown in schools all over Great Britain, is based around a teenager who is killed by a train while trying to cross the railway line. Killing Time was directed by Sue Read and produced by Bernard Morris. It was a replacement for the film Robbie, which itself was a replacement for a graphic film called The Finishing Line.
Plot
This film follows a group of teenagers who ignore a sign telling them that passengers are not allowed in this part of the railway station. They then decide that the fastest and most exciting way to get home is to walk across several railway lines (except a girl who refuses and leaves, as an example to the audience.) While most of the group easily crosses these lines Andy is more reluctant.
The next part of this film is shown from Andy's perspective with Andy mainly looking at his friends across the railway lines and occasionally looking around for trains. Though Andy is wearing headphones he is able to clearly hear what his friends are saying. His friends then make several claims, such as the third rail isn't live unless a train is coming or that trains can quickly brake; all of which are rebutted by the narrator who explains that the third rail is always live, and that a train can neither brake quickly nor swerve. Andy then starts to walk across the railway lines when his friends hear a train coming; he sees the train and slips on the rails, falling down onto the track. Andy's friends don't do anything to help him, believing that the train will see Andy and stop. The train then hits Andy, killing him and scattering his body parts across the railway.
The remainder of this film consists of stories from train drivers and a British Transport Police constable regarding people who have died after being electrocuted or hit by a train. It also contains the testimony of a mother regarding how her son died.