Product: The Descent (Original Unrated Cut) [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 4.0
Horror Takes a New Direction
Upon seeing this cover, the contemporary movie goer is going to automatically compare this to the de-humanizing likes of the "Saw" and "Hostel" franchise. I mean, the cover depicts a woman emerging from a pool of blood! That screams "torture-porn," doesn't it?But I was intrigued. Not by the thought that it may resemble the aforementioned horrid movies, but by the fact that Joss Whedon--creator of cult shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"--had recommended the flick. Anyone that knows Joss Whedon knows that the man is big on female empowerment, and that he often speaks out strongly about torture-porn movies like the sickening "Captivity." The fact that he had given praise to THIS movie made me second-guess my first impression, given to me by the admittedly misleading cover.This movie was great. Gory? Yes, there was gore. But the gore was in service of the story--the horror--not just to show some people getting killed. All the characters are developed in the beginning, centering the drama of the film around one woman who is trying to overcome a tragic event that has happened to this family. That, plus some claustrophobic scenes, add a bit of psychological terror to this thriller, spicing up what would become--about halfway through the flick--a story about women fighting back, taking their nasty situation by the horns.While anyone who did enjoy--God help them--the "Saw" or "Hostel" movies will certainly find this movie entertaining, all those who abhorred those movies--myself included--will find this damn near inspirational story (though the ending is a bit of a come-down, though it serves the story well) a breath of fresh air in the horror genre.8/10