There's something down there

Rating: 8/10 (23 May 2007)

Neil Marshall's debut Dog Soldiers was a brilliant small-budget werewolf movie; his second film, The Descent, is a remarkable step forward: darker, scarier and more visually interesting.
Six women - including Sarah (Shauna Macdonald), who recently lost her family, her protective friend Beth (Alex Reid) and reckless Juno (Nathalie Jackson Mendoza) - go spelunking in a cave in the Appalachian Mountains but end up trapped underground while mysterious creatures stalk them.
Performances are solid, if limited by the lack of characterization - every character is defined by a single personality trait. The all-female cast is an intriguing idea and feels refreshing for the genre.
Although the mysterious Gollum-like monsters show up relatively late, even before their arrival The Descent is tense and suspenseful. Pacing is brisk, tone dark and unsettling; the original ending is far superior to the silly alternate version.
Marshall shows talent and a true understanding of the horror genre: let's hope his career will continue at these levels.
8/10