SHARE
COPY LINK

UNDERGROUND

VIDEO: New horror movie set in Paris catacombs

The Paris catacombs, known to its fans as the "kingdom of the dead", has provided the setting for a brand new horror flick that hit cinemas in France this week. Check out the trailer, though it may make you hesitate about heading below ground ever again.

The movie is called “As above, so below” and it's a “Blair Witch Project”-like faux documentary that traces the expedition of a very unfortunate explorer and her team through Paris's subterrannean cemetery.

The American film, which was shot in the City of Light's famous catacombs, leads the explorers in search of an important historical artifact, but what they discover instead are their own demons.

Here's the trailer:

Although the film may seem far-fetched the idea of carefree adventurers having a hairy time in the underground burial ground is nothing new.

In 2011, The Local reported on a somewhat similar real life misadventure in the miles and miles of underground galleries that contain the remains of some six million Parisians. In that case a crew late night revellers got lost in the winding passages and spent 48 unable to find their way out.

The dark labyrinth doesn't just draw drunk 20-somethings looking for scare. Photographers frequently use it as a macabre setting for unauthorized nude photo shoots. It's such a problem the catacombs have their own police dedicated to keeping people out.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

BE

Berlin U-Bahn: City considers express subway trains

Politicians in Berlin are calling for the introduction of express lines on the city’s underground rail (U-Bahn) network. The transport authority (BVG) is sceptical of the plan.

Berlin U-Bahn: City considers express subway trains
Picture alliance/Wolfgang Kumm/dpa

Unlike train lines in some other cities, Berlin’s underground train network does not include express lines. 

The re-introduction of express lines on the city’s S-Bahn network from December 2019 has however prompted calls for similar changes on the city’s U-Bahn network. 

Burkard Dregger, the leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU) in Berlin, told the German Press Agency that the U-Bahns should operate express from the city’s most popular stations to move people around faster. 

“[Express trains] mean you can get from A to C faster while skipping B to increase the speed”, Dregger said. 

Dregger said the changes were necessary to further encourage people to switch from driving to taking the train. 

“If public transport can become not just safe, but also clean, climate friendly – and fast – changing from car to public transport will be more attractive,” he said. 

“That’s why we want public transport to be faster – and that’s why we should follow the example of the S-Bahn and implement express trains on the underground (U-Bahn)”. 

Representatives from the Berlin transport authority however have suggested that such a change is likely to be difficult and unnecessary, due to the short distances between U-Bahn stations. 

The BVG has instead called for the implementation of express buses (X-Buses), which can travel long distances without stopping. 

Train services in Berlin are made up by the S-Bahn and U-Bahn networks. The S-Bahn serves the city’s main arteries as well as a ring line surrounding Berlin, while the U-Bahn serves stops which are closer together in a manner more similar to urban subway lines. 

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}

 

SHOW COMMENTS