Knockout Cocktail mix of Blair Witch, Signs, The Descent

Rating: 8/10 (7 April 2008)

I went to the cinema to watch this on a cold winter day rather bemused with the admittedly very clever and effective marketing hype. What I didn't expect was to be blown away by what turns out be a giant blockbuster roller-coaster ride of a movie. This is a unique cocktail of Blair witch Project, Shyamalan's Signs and The Descent. Sound takes centre stage here. That is not to say that the protagonists are redundant, no, far from it. But no other film has had my heart thumping with chills and excitement largely from sound effects as this. So be sure to watch this with at least decent surround because that is half the fun of this movie. The gimmicky tool of Blair Witch hand-held is cranked up to full effect giving us a sense of first person perspective of the horrors unfolding around a small confused group of friends/colleagues. The tension and spectacle is breathtaking but there also some much needed humour provided mostly by the dorky cameraman. But what elevates the film is that we care for the main characters and there is even a subtle love story that cleverly encapsulates the chaos. The movie maybe ridden with horror/SF clichés but they are all given a fresh and unique spin. A terrific monster hit