World Famous Comics: The Descent (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
The Descent (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, MyAnna Buring Directed By: Neil Marshall Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Lions Gate Films Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: December 26, 2006 Running Time: 99 minutes Theatrical Release Date: August 04, 2006
Amazon.com: Claustrophobia and bloody mayhem collide in the high-adrenaline horror flick The Descent. Six women (including one who lost her husband and child the year before, and one who harbors a bitter secret) spelunk in an unexplored cavern system that turns out to harbor mysterious, predatory creatures. That sums up the story, but--as with writer-director Neil Marshall's previous low-concept movie, Dog Soldiers--the plot doesn't begin to describe the riveting, stomach-lurching thrills this movie provides. The script affords the relatively unknown cast (led by Shauna Macdonald and Natalie Mendoza, both excellent) just enough room to make their characters distinct and genuine, so that when they're dropped into utmost peril our empathy is engaged as much as our fear. The dynamic direction and editing make the cavern a palpable, physical presence, even before the creepy beasts crawl out of their nooks. This is not a movie for everyone; it is extremely gruesome and will induce panic attacks in anyone with even a mild fear of closed spaces. But for anyone seeking something smarter, faster, and more wrenching than static torture-fests like Saw or Hostel, The Descent will draw you into its unsettling ooze. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description: On an annual extreme outdoor adventure six women meet in a remote part of the Appalachians to explore a cave hidden deep in the woods. Far below the surface of the earth disaster strikes when a rock fall blocks their exit and there's no way out. The women push on praying for another exit but there is something else lurking under the earth. The friends are now prey forced to unleash their most primal instincts in an all-out war against an unspeakable horror - one that attacks without warning again and again and again.Special Features: Audio Commentary with Director Neil Marshall and Crew Audio Commentary with Director Neil Marshall and Cast "Making of THE DESCENT" Deleted and Extended Scenes Storyboard and Scene Comparison Still Gallery Cast and Crew Bios Outtakes DesEnding - An Interview with Director Neil Marshall TrailersSystem Requirements:Running Time: 99 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: UNRATED UPC: 031398206422 Manufacturer No: 20642
Scary! Gore galore, girls that rock (literally and figuratively), unbelievable claustrophobic tension and an army of creepy crawlies that climb walls in the dark better than most Cirque du Soleil cast members MORE than make up for the lack of in-depth story telling in this virtually plotless film. Make sure your belt's on tight, your hooks are anchored and that you've given yourself plenty of rope before taking the plunge. A white-knuckle ride that's well worth the price of admission!
It descended into something, all right... I'll be honest and say they could have cut the first 15-20 minutes out of the movie. Yes, I know they were setting up the scenario, but it wasn't really necessary and once the main part of the movie started it felt like those scenes had been cheaply and shoddily tacked on to give a completely unbelievable movie a bit of reality. Which didn't work. It's a horror flick, just start out with people getting together for whatever reason to go explore dark and scary caves on an ill-advised trip. I don't think most of the audience cares why - we came to this movie willing to suspend our disbelief, run with that.
Once the adventure starts I began to like the movie more. I know it's just a shallow horror flick but there were some genuinely interesting interactions within the group. If you want to over-analyze it you could, because the reactions and actions of several of the group members were very well-done, considering the situation they found themselves in. I found myself drawn into the storyline and pulled along with the characters. The 'monsters' were good, just the right touch of frightening without being ludicrous.
But then... then there was the end. And what would have been an okay movie was completely ruined by an end scene that made (at least in my mind) no sense whatsoever. I can't really say more without ruining the ending, but I can't wrap my brain around what was supposed to have happened and what the filmmakers were trying to imply with the last bit.
So there was a bit of decent action-horror capped with a boring beginning and a confusing end, leaving a bad last impression. I'd say that there are far better horror movies to spend your time watching, give this one a miss.
SCARY AS HELL 9.5 OUT OF 10 The Descent is one of the best horror movies I've ever watched. It's actually scary, the gore is gut-wrenching, the setting is great, and the creature designs are great. If you love horror movies, you need to watch this movie because it's the best horror movie made in over a decade. WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Six women; Sarah, Juno, Beth, Rebecca, Holly, and Sam; go on a cave-climbing trip in the Appalachian Mountains, and find a mysterious cave no one has been in for over a century and wish to claim it and name it... or at least Juno does. The rest of the group thinks they're going to Borham Caverns. Things seem to be going well for a while, until the cave entrance collapses, and now they are trapped two miles underground with grotesque human-like creatures who like the taste of flesh. STORYLINE: SCORE: 8 OUT OF 10- Some parts of the story evoke memories of storylines that would come from a movie in the '80s, or perhaps earlier. However, the story is done well, although the beginning is slow, and it never gives an explanation as to what those creatures are, or an explanation of the bizarre and creepy ending. But that will never really bother you. MUSIC: SCORE: 9 OUT OF 10- There's not much, but it's good, and it knows when the pivotal moments of terror in the film come up. GORE FACTOR: SCORE: 9.75 OUT OF 10- The gore is just plain nasty and nausea-inducing. Eye-squishing, rock-climbing-axe-stabbing, falling into giant pools of blood, broken leg, and people being eaten... lovely. SCARE FACTOR: SCORE: 9.5 OUT OF 10- Don't watch this movie in the dark, it will scare the hell out of you. The film is tense a lot as you fear what comes next, and you don't know what comes next. It's really a marvel to see a film that still has an ability to scare you. ENTERTAINMENT: SCORE: 9.5 OUT OF 10- Aside from a slow beginning, this film has the perfect entertainment for horror fans and will definitely satisfy those who are looking for something that is actually scary and worth watching as a horror movie. Don't watch this movie if you're afraid of the dark or you're claustrophobic because it is loaded with these fears. OVERALL: SCORE: 9.5 OUT OF 10- This film is incredible and rather impressive, as it puts so many other horror movies to shame. You will enjoy it, you will get the crap scared out of you, and you will feel a little sick from the gore... HELL YES!! THE GOOD: It's scary, it's gory, and it's one of the best horror movies made in over a decade. THE BAD: Slow beginning.
ONE BAD MOVIE Even after I bought this DVD, I stopped watching shortly into the movie. I thought I was going to see something great, given all the reviews. Instead, the first half hour was nothing but bad acting, giggling women, and lame horror movie stunts. A woman running down a hospital hallway while the lights turn off behind her - but wait - it was just an illusion. A spike goes through a window and into a woman's head - but wait - it was just a dream. Wow, how original. This movie sucks so bad that I didn't bother watching the rest of it. I avoided more lame horror moments I'm sure. Watch the movie, The Cave. It's a brilliant movie which amazon reviewers unfairly panned. They should have saved their negative comments for this movie instead. The Cave is not a bunch of cheap horror movie stunts. It's a well written, well acted, well directed movie with great cinematography. Less blood and gore too.
Perhaps my favourite horror film This must be one of the best horror films ever made. I've seen it several times, but it keeps me on the edge of my seat each time. I'm also fairly certain the creators of the film have taken some inspiration from Lovecraft's early tale "The Beast in the Cave". The film is about the cave climbing trip these girls go on, which naturally goes horribly wrong. Sarah, the Scottish main character, looses her daughter and husband in a car crash that nearly kills her too. After this she has a tough time, so five of her friends travel with her to the Appalachian Mountains to go explore a cave to try help her have some fun again after her rough period.
Turns out, as only we know, Sarah's Asian "friend"; Juno, was having an affair with her husband, and he was possibly about to tell her just as he was killed in the crash. Sarah therefore never found out about this, even though some of their mutual friends apparently suspected it. Once they go down the cave, the path behind them collapses, and they find out that they are not going to be rescued, since Juno, the girl that was in charge of planning the route led them to an unexplored cave, in order for them to "discover it together". This means they will have to find their own way out. Amazingly, they discover some old remains of previous climbers, well over a hundred years old, as they descend into the cave. This will turn out to be quite a disturbing fact, as the truth dawns on them.
The film is extremely violent, so it is not something for everyone, but you'll be hard pressed to find any more well made horror films. In the caves, they discover that they are not alone, but share it with a species of subterranean humans, that are savage predators. Blind, but with perfect hearing and an amazing ability to climb, the beasts begin their hunt for human flesh. The relationships in the group quickly become strained, and it becomes quite a philosophically deep film, with a very Nietzschean feel to it, an extreme Will-To-Life is portrayed.
The character Sarah eventually turns out to be quite the warrior, once she is pressured into this role. So if you want an intelligent horror film, with a very European cast and some great nature shots look no further. Make sure you get the European unrated version of the film, though, so you don't miss out on the original ending. The American version of the ending is quite meaningless, so I cannot emphasize this enough. One of my ten favourite films, and without a doubt 5 stars plus.
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