The Descent

[Brian in Mesa]

The Descent

Release Date: August, 2006
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Neil Marshall
Screenwriter: Neil Marshall
Genre: Horror
MPAA Rating: R (for strong violence/gore and language)
Website: The Descent

Starring: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone, Myanna Buring, Oliver Milburn, Molly Kayll

Plot Summary: "The Descent" is Neil Marshall's hotly anticipated follow up to his 2002 hit "Dog Soldiers." Directed by Marshall from his own script, it tells the story of an all-female caving expedition that goes horribly wrong, and stars Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone and Myanna Buring. Set in a cave system deep in the Appalachian Mountains, Marshall describes his film as "'Deliverance' goes underground."

One year after a tragic accident, six girlfriends meet in a remote part of the Appalachians for their annual caving trip. Deep below the surface of the earth, disaster strikes when a rock falls and blocks their route back to the surface. The girls soon learn that Juno, the thrill-seeking leader of the expedition, has brought them to an unexplored cave and that as a result no knows where they are to come rescue them. The group splinters and each push on, praying for another exit. But there is something else lurking under the earth – a race of monstrous humanoid creatures that are adapted perfectly to life in the dark. As the friends realize they are now prey, they are forced to unleash their most primal instincts in an all-out war against an unspeakable horror – one that attacks without warning, again and again and again.

As the others battle for their lives, Sarah (Macdonald), still recovering from a mental collapse brought on by the recent deaths of her family, is fighting for her sanity. When old secrets are revealed, the friends turn on one another, causing the group to implode. Betrayed and desperate, Sarah realizes that to make it back to the surface, she must become as savage as the creatures themselves.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Set in a cave system deep in the Appalachian Mountains, Marshall describes his film as "'Deliverance' goes underground."

 

[Chaplin]

This movie is getting probably the best reviews of any movie this summer, including Pirates 2.

88% Fresh at rottentomatoes.

 

[abomb]

This movie is getting probably the best reviews of any movie this summer, including Pirates 2.

88% Fresh at rottentomatoes.

Yep, saw that too. Ebert's fillin gave it 4 stars.

Here is some other press via imdb;

The British have a way of pulling off horror films with a kind of class that impresses film critics who are ordinarily not well disposed toward the American variety. Such is certainly the case with The Descent. Associated Press critic David German observes that while it may seem like a "retread of the Alien films," it is "still far better than most of the cliché-ridden dreck that passes for horror." Chris Kaltenbach in the Baltimore Sun calls it "the most exhilaratingly horrifying movie to come out in years, a squirm-inducing exercise in terror." Rick Groen in the Toronto Globe & Mail describes it as "a tasty cup of torment." Lou Lumenick in the New York Post praises it as "ingenious" and adds that it is "easily the summer's scariest movie." And Wesley Morris in the Boston Globe sums up: "A cult classic is born."

 

[joeshmo]

Saw it this past week end.

The reviews already noted are pretty dead one.

I thought it was a really good movie. Well thought out flick.

Made me jump a few times.

In fact I liked it a lot.

 

[abomb]

Saw it this past week end.

The reviews already noted are pretty dead one.

I thought it was a really good movie. Well thought out flick.

Made me jump a few times.

In fact I liked it a lot.

How will this affect the Cardinals ability to sign free agents next year under the increased cap?

wait...I'm used to your posts being in the Cardinals forum.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

This movie was excellent!!

Definitely kept the heart rate up...

 

[Dback Jon]

I tried to watch this today - I get claustrophobic, and being trapped in a cave is one of my biggest "fear factors" - didn't make it through the film. BF loved it though...

 

[Chaplin]

Couple things to keep in mind before you watch this movie...

1) If you dislike enclosed spaces, don't see it--there's no way you'd get through the first half of the movie.

2) If you have a fear of the dark, don't see it

3) If you don't like things that crawl in the dark and can come out and get you, most definitely don't see it...

However:

1) If you like to be creeped out and scared, definitely see it

2) If you like seeing strong female characters kicking arse and taking names, definitely see it

3) If you like leaving the theater feeling shaken, definitely see it

A great movie and a very strong entry in the horror genre.

 

[Shane]

Excellent Ecellent movie! Had me jumping off my couch more than once! I HIGHLY Recommend!

 

[Louis]

One of the funniest movies of the year.

Completely ridiculous.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I want to see this so bad....may go rent it today.

 

[phillycard]

The frustration level was amazingly high. It leaft me asking why the hell did she do that about 20 times. Stupid, stupid movie. A flat out D.

 

[Shane]

The frustration level was amazingly high. It leaft me asking why the hell did she do that about 20 times. Stupid, stupid movie. A flat out D.

You guys are crazy! This movie rocked!

 

[Chaplin]

The frustration level was amazingly high. It leaft me asking why the hell did she do that about 20 times. Stupid, stupid movie. A flat out D.

What did you want? It was a straight genre picture. Name the 20 times when you asked yourself why a character did what they did. Everybody asks that of movie characters regardless of the movie. They were trapped underground, there aren't a whole lot of options. And when a character DID do something stupid, it's not like the other characters weren't asking her why she did it as well.

This is easily one of the best horror movies of the last 10 years.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

What did you want? It was a straight genre picture. Name the 20 times when you asked yourself why a character did what they did. Everybody asks that of movie characters regardless of the movie. They were trapped underground, there aren't a whole lot of options. And when a character DID do something stupid, it's not like the other characters weren't asking her why she did it as well.

This is easily one of the best horror movies of the last 10 years.

Agreed....not many options when trapped underground with creatures after you...and also not much chance of you making the right choice regardless under those circumstances.

I watched it tonight...scary movie, late at night...I hit the fast-forward button a few times

Enjoyed it though.

 

[phillycard]

What did you want? It was a straight genre picture. Name the 20 times when you asked yourself why a character did what they did. Everybody asks that of movie characters regardless of the movie. They were trapped underground, there aren't a whole lot of options. And when a character DID do something stupid, it's not like the other characters weren't asking her why she did it as well.

This is easily one of the best horror movies of the last 10 years.

I hated the characters Chaplin. It wasn't overt things that frustrated me, but the dumb things that take away my enjoyment of a movie. Like the hospital scenes where the girl is freaking out and the entire hospital and staff just walk right by her, and when the girl got shanked with the hatchet by creeping up on her friend after she killed the one creature. Just SMH moments that infuriate me. I don't like dumb characters, period. I may be nit picking, but it ruins my enjoyment of a film.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I hated the characters Chaplin. It wasn't overt things that frustrated me, but the dumb things that take away my enjoyment of a movie. Like the hospital scenes where the girl is freaking out and the entire hospital and staff just walk right by her, and when the girl got shanked with the hatchet by creeping up on her friend after she killed the one creature. Just SMH moments that infuriate me. I don't like dumb characters, period. I may be nit picking, but it ruins my enjoyment of a film.

Well, since you are nit picking

If someone is crying in a hospital and a friend is comforting her, it's highly doubtful anyone from the hospital staff will join in the hugging, or stop to watch. That's not their job.

And second, when you are being assaulted by two monsters and kill one, and suddenly there is a tap on your shoulder, I can totally see just turning and swinging.

The dumber part is that the girl should have said her name first before touching her on the shoulder.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

Well, since you are nit picking

If someone is crying in a hospital and a friend is comforting her, it's highly doubtful anyone from the hospital staff will join in the hugging, or stop to watch. That's not their job.

And second, when you are being assaulted by two monsters and kill one, and suddenly there is a tap on your shoulder, I can totally see just turning and swinging.

The dumber part is that the girl should have said her name first before touching her on the shoulder.

I thought the hatchet job was awesome!!!

There was one thing that I wondered. The stench in the CHUD lair had to be horrific. When the main character fell into the pool of H20/blood she would have been yakking for ever. It was still a good scene though.

 

[phillycard]

Well, since you are nit picking

If someone is crying in a hospital and a friend is comforting her, it's highly doubtful anyone from the hospital staff will join in the hugging, or stop to watch. That's not their job.

And second, when you are being assaulted by two monsters and kill one, and suddenly there is a tap on your shoulder, I can totally see just turning and swinging.

The dumber part is that the girl should have said her name first before touching her on the shoulder.

True, but they at least would have directed them into an area where they could do that. These two are on the floor making a spectacle, and people are zooming right by them like they aren't even there. DUMB!! The cornball commando style beatdowns of the creatures. DUMB!! I just disliked this flick on so many levels.

 

[Renz]

I was disappointed. I didn't think it was scary at all. The monsters were too easy to kill and you almost always saw them coming so I was hardly ever startled.

I also didn't like all the jump cuts during the fight scenes. The quick cuts, combined with the darkness, made it hard to figure out what was going on. I guess it is in vogue to film fight scenes that way now, but I find it very annoying.

There were some good claustrophobia-inducing moments and the end was pretty good, but over all I give it about a "6".

 

[Bada0Bing]

I just watched it. I’m a little claustrophobic, so some of those scenes made me feel a little uncomfortable (which was great). Scenes of people getting buried alive really make me squirm (Kill Bill Vol.2 comes to mind). I really enjoyed this one. I pretty much concur with this post:

Couple things to keep in mind before you watch this movie...

1) If you dislike enclosed spaces, don't see it--there's no way you'd get through the first half of the movie.

2) If you have a fear of the dark, don't see it

3) If you don't like things that crawl in the dark and can come out and get you, most definitely don't see it...

However:

1) If you like to be creeped out and scared, definitely see it

2) If you like seeing strong female characters kicking arse and taking names, definitely see it

3) If you like leaving the theater feeling shaken, definitely see it

A great movie and a very strong entry in the horror genre.

Also, I learned a new phrase when I was researching the director of this one. Neil Marshall is an unofficial member of the Splat Pack.

Splat Pack is a term coined by Alan Jones of Total Film. The term describes a group of film makers who since 2002 have brought about a renaissance of horror film. Their agenda is to bring back really violent and horrific movies moving away from PG-13 rated movies and into the R-rated spectrum. The members have repeatedly clashed with the MPAA board over their work but continue to find substantial box-office success.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I watched this film last night after the Suns game and liked it. I did jump a couple of times, eventhough I knew it was coming.