Product: The Descent (Original Unrated Cut) [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 4.0
The deeper they go, the more disturbing it gets.
I heard lots of good things about this movie when it was in theaters and again when it first came to DVD. When it comes to horror films, I usually enjoy movies that build the tension and then go for a good scare instead of typical slasher films or movies that focus only on gore. So this sounded like it was right up my alley.Visually the film is extremely effective. The caverns and caves look very real, and for anyone who gets claustrophobic, this movie is one to steer clear from. The lighting also well done, giving us enough to see by, but also providing lots of shadows that movie and twist as the light sources move. Sound and music are also very effective, heightening mood and providing lots of good scares. How about the gore? Well the movie does have some bloody bits in it, but the most disturbing section was a broken bone peaking out of the skin and needing to be reset. The combination of the sounds, the visuals, and the acting made me squirm in my seat.The story itself is simple. Five women go into an uncharted cave, get trapped deep within the ground and find horrible creatures that want to devour them. However Neil Marshall who wrote and directed the film gives us a bit more. Each of the five women have their own histories, personalities and weaknesses. We get to know them a bit before the adventure begins, and when things start going bad, we learn even more. This intricacy works for and against the movie. On the one hand, it creates believable characters, who you root for and sympathize with. On the flip side, it provided a couple of interesting places for the movie to go, and yet it seemed that movie went with the most obvious and least satisfying path. I don't want to say more without giving away spoilers, but I think the movie could have worked even better as a psychological horror, instead of a monster movie.The acting is stand out. All five women give great performances. Since each of the characters has a distinct personality and history, this gave them more to work with and each of them does a great job. It was also nice to see fresh faces in these roles. My only minor quibble was their diverse accents made some of the dialogue a bit difficult to catch. The folks playing the monsters do a great job as well. They don't have dialogue but thier movements convey all the hunger and threat you need.This is a very good horror film, much better than the recent stuff we've been getting lately It was scary, disturbing, and moved at a good pace. I confirmed that I never want to go cave diving... ever. It also confirmed that good horror films can still be made in this day and age. I look forward to Mr. Marshall's next film.