A descent into fear

Rating: 10/10 (6 November 2007)

If Neil Marshall's DOG SOLDIERS was inspired by 80's action/horror movies like ALIENS or PREDATOR, THE DESCENT reminded me of films like DELIVERANCE 1972 and THE Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE 1974.
In the days where no horror fan hears the names like Tobe Hooper anymore and Wes craven makes horrible movies like CURSED,Niel Marshall has made a masterpiece in horror genre,THE DESCENT. A low budget horror film which has all the elements that can be expected from one. It has blood(which I think is really necessary for the genre),suspense,a very creepy location and there's a smart psychological plot under it's skin where you can sense issues like CLAUSTROPHOBIA or PARANOIA.
The story of THE DESCENT is very simple,however Neil Marshall tells it in a very interesting way therefore the less you know about it the more you enjoy it,so I'm going to skip the story. And finally because the most of the movie happens in a cave where there's no natural light, try to pay attention how the scenes are lit by such few and simple things,and the influence each one has because of their color.
So go rent the DVD(and make sure it has the original British ending,because the US ending is a total disappointment)turn of the lights,turn up the volume and enjoy a descent into fear.