Product: The Descent (Original Unrated Cut) [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 5.0
The Ultimate In Subterranean Horror
What "Star Wars" did for space-oriented special effects and the documentary "Winged Migration" did for aerial cinematography, "The Descent" does for the whole world of the subterranean. Taking place largely in underground caves and tunnels, that whole exotic, dangerous, world is captured in all its rocky beauty. And then, having established itself as a bona fide landmark in the craft of capturing this kind of envirornment, it injects into it a relentless horror as some of the most ghastly and yet believable monsters in moviedom begin to stalk the six spelunkers who've come exploring these seldom-seen-by-human-eyes tunnels and caverns.The six friends meet periodically for this kind of adventure, and in this case it's the first time in a while they've all been together, with the spectre of a tragic accident that occured during a white-water trek the previous year still hanging over them. Hidden tensions begin to crop up once underground, once the tunnels turn out to be more treacherous than counted on, and they're already deep and off course when some of the members of the expedition begin to suspect that they're not alone down there. Their fears are dismissed as claustrophobic delusions by other members of the group as the passages get tighter, the chasms more difficult to cross. As they try to progress, clear evidence of past explorers in these inaccessible tunnels is found, and the fear of something as yet unseen begins to increase.Gorgeously shot - with many scenes lit only by the red light of flares - and featuring universally fine performances and outstanding special effects, The Descent goes on to be even more than the sum of its parts, and is one of the best horror movies of the last few years. A must-see.