Product: The Descent (Original Unrated Cut) [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 4.0
Where the Boys Aren't
In a wonderful departure from the "ten little indians" schemata of previous horror films where the man is strong and the woman survives by luck, here we get an entire movie about just women forced to survive against evil. There are no women running around in towels or their underwear, no women needing to be rescued by a man; these women are tough and that's part of what makes this movie so engrossing.Set for no real reason in the Appalachian Mountains (was this some subversive move on the part of the writer/director as a commentary on contemporary US relations with Europe as most of the women are European?), this is a great tale that takes its time developing and delivers a great payoff. Hold onto your seats in the final half hour as things get very nasty very quickly. I have never been a fan of violence against women, such as in the recent remake of "The Hills Have Eyes" (which included a nasty rape), but I could handle it in "The Descent" because the women fight, and they fight hard and are not hapless victims. How often do we get to see that? Like - never.Great movie, but not for the claustrophobic. You'll become so involved with the movie that you'll feel like you're in the caverns with the women and it's not always a comfortable fit.