extraordinarily terrifying...with that said, there are problems

Rating: 9/10 (15 January 2007)

Remember, this film came out in two different years (2005 in the UK, 2006 in the USA) so it can be categorized in two years. The Descent is the best horror film of 2005, but Saw III out does it in 2006. However, it does take the cake as the scariest of both years. The horror within this film is excellently displayed, and the only reason Saw III was the better film in my opinion was because it had a story filled with twists and was near unpredictable. The Descent is a straightforward story about 6 friends who, a year after one (Shauna MacDonald) lost her husband and daughter in a car crash, decide the best way to bond is to go cave diving. I know, that's the last thing any normal person would do to 'bond'. Soon after they enter the cave, they realize that this cave is special in a way that one of the other friends (Natalie Mendoza) conveniently forgot to mention, and that they are not alone.
Neil Marshall cements his place amongst the great horror directors with this film, and as you're watching, you'll see why. Marshall teases us with typical jumpy clichés before unleashing everyone's worst nightmare upon the audience: claustrophobia. If you are claustrophobic, you may become sickeningly scared by this film. This is the type of horror film that makes you jump and will make you look away. The gore is, at times, very difficult to watch. Marshall was so intent on scaring us half to death (which he does) that he forgot to actually write a good film. The plot is straightforward and predictable, and the ending will leave much to be desired. Some will like it, but most will be left clueless and upset at the ending. The characters seem to be, well, not really characters at all, as none of them besides Mendoza's character actually develop, even though MacDonald's character has an interesting backstory. Marshall's writing tries to establish something for each of them, but in the end it doesn't work and what you have is 6 people we don't like or identify with fighting for survival. The mood of the film is also a strength. You will not laugh at all in the film, like you're tempted to in other horror films. You won't even feel an urge to laugh. The music and lighting (I know, lighting sounds unimportant, but in a film like this, it's everything) are top notch. Marshall's cave is just scary itself. He is the real star of the film, not the actors. Due to the extreme graphic and relentless horror of the film, I recommend this film to anyone ages 17 and up. The direction and scare factor get a 10 from me, while the writing gets a 4, giving the film an overall rating of 7, which I believe is a good enough. The Descent is a very scary movie that suffers from the inadequacy of its script.
7/10 --spy