Pop Culture Thoughts

Rating: 9/10 (15 December 2018)

Neil Marshall's tense, oppressive horror entry is an absolute masterpiece. From the setting to the creature effects to the screenplay, there's so little to reproach here that it's surprising that the movie isn't already a bone-fide mainstream classic. Lead Shauna MacDonald tears into her role as a grieving wife and mother joining her friends on a cave-exploring adventure, headed straight for an unenviable head-first run-in with subterranean, flesh-eating monsters. Marshall's grasp of atmosphere and setting are remarkable, forcing most viewers (even horror aficionados) to white-knuckle their way through the proceedings, on the way to a memorable, devastating and emotional climax. Highly, highly recommended.