Atmosphere!! the best?

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2007)

Out of all the horror films I've seen, and that's a lot, this movie seems to capture that one thing that so many films seem to pass by, Atmosphere! This film brought two others to mind while I was watching it, Aliens and the Thing, these two movies set the bar when it comes to atmosphere, and this above all others is key to a great horror film. Neil Marshall seems to be a master of this, in an era when great horror films are tough to come by. From the very beginning this movie grabs you by your collar and doesn't let go. It seems to place right in the mix of everything that is happening, and emotion, what was the last horror film anyone has seen that had emotional attachment to its characters? As in Dog Soldiers, Mr. Marshall somehow builds a relationship with the characters without spending too much time doing so. So far in two films, Dog Soldiers (the best werewolf movie in my opinion), and the Descent (one of if not the best pure horror movie), Marshall has delivered sheer perfection. I applaud him in is efforts to show people how to make a great horror film, using real emotions and atmosphere, not just settling on the cheap "jump" thrills, though he mixes them in, its always at the perfect time and doesn't feel out of place. I could only hope that more film makers take a look at what hes done, and attempt to take some things from him. Congratulations Neil Marshall, you have become the horror master in my eyes! p.s. looking forward to Doomsday!