Chicks dig deep for monsters

Rating: 4/10 (29 July 2006)

What we have here is a feminist horror movie, a girl-powered festival of monsters. That idea has some originality, some possibilities for innovation, and you're going to see that in the movie: it isn't just another movie about monsters who live in caves.
My gripe with it was the same as many other horror movies: why do the characters have to do the dumbest possible things? Maybe that was intentional on the part of the screenwriter and director. They argue with each other, have emotional crisis, take out their frustrations on each other. I would hate to be caught in a cave full of monsters with this bunch.
As in many horror movies, in any situation you can rely on the characters to make exactly the wrong decision, to your eternal frustration. I tried screaming at the TV but they didn't seem to hear me, and continued blundering around the cave being eaten.
The girls aren't all experienced cavers, either, which strikes me as horrendously stupid. You're going to take a bunch of non-experienced people on a major exploration? Someone needs to question their judgement on that. It must have sounded like a good plot device on paper.
And hey, it's a horror movie, where is the schlock? I was hoping for some hot lesbians, some mud wrestling, maybe even a scene where the monsters discover girls are good for more than just dinner. Male chauvinist horndogs beware: the sleaze factor is non-existent.
For something similar, with a better plot and smarter characters, see Creep.