Much better than I expected

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2005)

As a fan of horror films, and one who's prepare to watch some of the lesser films in the genre, I went to see this not expecting an awful lot. As long as it gave me a few jumps and wasn't too clichéd, I'd be reasonably happy. I was pleasantly surprised to find instead a very enjoyable film that kept my attention throughout. Although it couldn't be described as a desperately original script, it did avoid some of the clichés that have plagued recent films such as Wrong Turn. The women in question at least had a purpose to being in such a perilous situation. Also, Instead of being killed off one-by-one by an single, unseen, lurking menace, they were attacked en mass by a group of creatures who stayed mostly in sight afterwards. The characters were given enough of a background to provide some intrigue, but not so much as to slow the early scenes. But best of all, I enjoyed the way that the ending played with your expectations of horror movies. After a very enjoyable 90 minutes or so, the bog-standard 'one-person-escapes-and-someone-you-thought-was-dead-is-still-alive' ending really made my heart sink. So I was relieved when it cut back to the main character still in the caves, suffering a mental breakdown and facing certain death. It was refreshing to see such a downbeat ending in a low-budget horror film and one that made me think about it long after I left the cinema. Probably the most positive comment I can make about this film is that there was nothing really wrong with it. There were no plot twists or characterisations that felt unnecessary or inconsistent. It set out to create suspense, shock the audience and make them squirm. And that is exactly what it did for me and most of the people in the cinema with me. And for doing its job so well, I've given it 9 out of 10. Sure, it's no Citizen Kane, but it does exactly what it sets out to do. I've yet to see 'Dog Soldiers', which is by the same director, but definitely will now. If it's as refreshingly un-clichéd and as well-made as 'The Descent', then it should be a great night's entertainment.