Richly Textured Psychological Horror/Thriller

Rating: 8/10 (24 October 2012)

The reason to watch "The Descent" is that it is a well-crafted, richly textured, tense, arm-chair squeezing, and gratifying film that is probably not quite like anything you have seen before. You will experience a descent, in more ways than one.
Its pace will not satisfy everyone. Just like the pace of "No Country For Old Men" or "Unforgiven" will not satisfy everyone. It takes time for the story to develop and the tension and horror to build. But, believe me, there is tension and horror.
Part of this movie's triumph, is how it effectively it makes use of subtle glances and verbal cues that potently, yet subtly blend friction and even hostility into the movie.
The score is mesmerizing as well, with deep swells that touch the inner parts of the being. As years have past, I have found the score to be one of the most compelling parts of the movie. It is satisfying and seems perfectly matched to the film.
I have found that, like most good movies, "The Descent" has earned more of my admiration through the years. I enjoyed the movie "Alien" when it first came out, but I've only recently begun to appreciate just how good it is. "The Descent" has similarly earned my respect through the course of time. It's not as good as "Alien", but it certainly leaves a resounding impact on your emotions, such that upon finishing the movie, you feel overwhelmed, gratified, and realizing ... "Wow, I just saw something really significant."
I don't know another horror/thriller that will leave you feeling quite like you will at the end of "The Descent".