| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
A- |
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| Acting: |
B |
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| Direction: |
B |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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|
A Film Student's Review
by AdaraB (movies profile)
Aug 20, 2006
6
of
6 people found this review helpful
I decided to see a midnight showing of this for my birthday, and my initial reaction was one of complete awe and amazement. FINALLY, a good horror/thriller film. It is one of my favorite genres, and recently, I have not been at all impressed with the smattering of so-so scary movies ment to only take money from the consumer, and have no real art behind them, but that is a whole other issue with me. Then after a nights sleep and a healthy conversation with other viewers of "The Descent" I began to question my opinion. For those that do not know the plot of this movie is such: Six friends partake in a cave spelunking trip in a very deserted area of the appalacian moountains in North Carolina. This trip takes place roughly a year after a car accident takes the lives of the main character, Sarah's, husband and daughter. While treking through the cave it collaspes on them, thus forceing them to try to find their own way out. Little do they know, they are not alone in the deep, dark, cave.hey must now make their way out, and fight for their lives, from thes vile creatures who are hunting them.
A friend of mine saw, and did not enjoy the movie. She said that she was at times confused and felt that the plot was unstable. She felt that there were holes in the plot and that she was unable to connect the movie all the way through, and I do agree with her. This movie is really divided into three parts. The beging, where the characters are introduced, the car accident happens, friends meet a year later, and they rekindle their friendships. It focuses solely on the relationships between the characters. The second part is when they descend into the cave, it collaspes and they start to try ti find their way out. This is the psycological portion of the movie. There is truly terror in not knowing of you will ever see daylight again. The third part is the action part, where the creatures are now hunting them and they fight back, and try to make it out alive.
In the begining we are shown haunting images of a birthday cake and the car crash, as Sarah relives the day that her husband and daughter died, and as she faces peril herdelf, the images return. However, as the movie moves forward, the director just kinda forgot to put them back in there. would be understandable if Sarah had a mental change, where she was no longer afraid of death, but the director does not show us that. The subplot was forgotten, and not picked back up again.
I also disagree with the characters the director decided to kill off, I will not say who, but one in particular, at the end was incredibly surprising, and in my opinion, was completely unsubstantianed.
This is a very gory movie, and it takes place in very tight spaces, so the clasutrophobic and weak-stomached should not see it.
Now after discussing this and debating this movie, I came to thois conclusion.
"Yes there are some flaws in this movie, but they are minute at best. Flaws that only a trained eye would notice. In all this is the BEST thriller I have seen since '28 Days Later.' It is a movie full of thrills, chills, seat jumping moments, and yes screaming. I recommed it to all that want to have a good time, and just be scared." |
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