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The Descent
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Starring: Shauna Macdonald
Genre:
Horror/Thriller
Run Time: 99
min.
Release Date:
August 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Slasher films are a
dime-a-dozen. HALLOWEEN. NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. The list
is lengthy. Some of them introduce new characters that send goose bumps
up our backs. Others tread over old material and put a fresh spin on
them. But THE DESCENT doesn’t do any of that.
Comically labeled as “Six Chicks With Picks,” this cave exploration
thriller has the obligatory fright scenes (you know the kind ...where
something weird suddenly and loudly burst toward screen), the attractive
die-off cast, and themes trodden over time and again (from ALIENS
to the horrible film THE CAVE.)
For some reason this flick has gotten several positive reviews by
professional film critics, but I fail to see why. There’s nothing
original. Nothing that lingers after watching it. No truly memorable
cast members.
That we’re supposed to sympathize with Sarah (Shauna Mcdonald), the main
character, is rammed down our throats (and through her husband’s head)
when a car accident takes Sarah’s family from her. A year later, a group
of girlfriends get together to go spelunking and to try and heal the
wounds left by the death of Sarah’s husband and child. There’s a touch
of deceit going on as Juno (Natalie Jackson Mendoza) was obviously
having an affair with Sarah’s husband before the accident. Whether Sarah
knows of this or not is up for interpretation.
As the group of six descend into the cave we quickly learn that this is
an unexplored hole. And when a cave-in happens, they’re forced to find
another way out. But with them in the caverns is something pale and
insidious (think about the Morlocks from THE TIME MACHINE and you
won’t be far off). But are they really there? Is it possible that
Sarah’s had a meltdown and only imagined seeing these creatures?
It isn’t the question of Sarah’s sanity that’ll put you off The
Descent, but rather the ho-hum attitude most will have after seeing
the film. It just doesn’t have any emotional impact. You don’t care
whether these gals live or get their stomachs ripped open.
The filming is also very dark and it’s often difficult to see what
exactly is going on. Although caves are dark and difficult to see in,
this doesn’t necessarily translate well to an entertaining movie
experience.
Still, those with a fear of enclosed spaces will probably be pretty
freaked out by The Descent. The claustrophobia is easily felt,
and when you add to that some bizarre ghost-like creatures with
Spiderman-like crawling abilities, some might find this a lightly
entertaining creep-fest.
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Image from The Descent
DVD cost: $14.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The appearance of the
creatures was kept secret from the cast members until the first scene in
which they encounter them was filmed. When the cast were finally filming
the scene where the girls encounter the crawlers, the actresses were
genuinely scared and screamed.
Movie Quote: "I
don't think I saw someone. I saw someone!"
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Descent
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