Into the Depths of the Earth and the Human Spirit

Rating: 8/10 (5 January 2007)

The Descent takes the viewer down into the depths of the earth and the human spirit via the vehicle of a group of six female cavers/adventurers. The bond between these women have been seriously damaged due to a tragic incident that occurs to one of them during a rafting trip that we see immediately at the beginning of the film. The others, led by one determined woman for reasons of her own, put together another adventure as a means of reforging the bonds between the group. The civility of normal life leads to a good start as the group has a carefree night in a cabin drinking and laughing on pedestrian matters such as one's silly pajamas. But even here, some disturbing portents begin to show. This skin deep camaraderie continues until they start their descent down into an uncharted cave as stresses begin to creep to the fore. The strains manifest themselves even more when an unexpected earth tremor strikes the area sealing the women off from their entry path into the cave. As the situation worsens with the introduction of unexpected underground elements, we see the women descending further and further into the depths of the earth and their own despair with gory consequences. This movie is part Deliverance, one of the director's favorite films, and part 50's grade B monster flick with the two being melded together into a fine film alloy. Highly worth seeing, especially the darker UK version on the DVD release.