a an ex merchant seaman i be really interested in this movie represent i personally have be involve in a stowaway search on leave kingston jamaica where one person be find . we manage to get him ashore though a we be in territorial limit . on another ship i be on the stowaway be find and we could not land him anywhere due to passport or nationality issue . in fact he stay on for a year a an almost honorary crew member and work for his keep . africa be notorious for stowaway pickup . there be a great scene in the beginning of the film when the bulk carrier enter the african port represent her size dwarf all . the crew pop ashore for a little intercourse and inebriation . so far normal . the drama start when the stowaway enter the vast cavernous hold of the ship . joss ackland be brilliant a the captain with a drink problem be harass by his nemesis suchet right on form a the company representative on board . the stowaway search be classic but we do not have gun . i question the use of gun in this film . this ship seem to have a vast armoury . in my experience gun at sea be severely restrict due to custom regulation . and also have a dog on board be odd . anti rabies law especially in europe restrict carrying of animal severely . anyway pertwee be brilliant a the embittered mate . the horror which follow the discovery of the victim be unbearable represent the grim metallic background of the ship hold and a feeling that there be no where to hide add to the drama . some of the freighter crew be not into the murder and those who get involve be gradually suck in to a world of violence from which there be no escape . the chase through the ship especially the engine room scene be edge on the seat represent the feeling of extreme claustrophobia abounds . the feeling of metal pressing in and death be only a gun barrel away . the film be brutal represent my girlfriend have to give up watch it during the shooting and beating scene . while this go on suchet in the comfort of his well appoint cabin get drunk unaware of the mayhem 3 deck below . it a tense film and flaw in part but the real message be that we can all get suck into violence like this . slowly and surely . think of the train driver who take jew to auschwitz and the clerk who work out those train timetable . i always remember someone who have visit dachau concentration camp at the end of the war and he say that one of the s. s. guard have put a bird table outside the camp crematorium . this film be like that represent ordinary people suddenly find themselves in a world of unstoppable violence .