I had heard that The Descent was a film I needed to see. When the film came out I remember thinking it looks a little cheesy. However, it’s a very well put together film that brings some scares in an even scarier environment. The cast does a great job in the intense setting and makes for an enjoyable film. I give The Descent the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy.
The Descent utilizes the dark, tight spaces of the caves to scare the viewers.
Sarah’s (Shauna Macdonald) world is changed forever after a horrible accident. A year later, looking to restore some kind of normalcy to her life she plans a caving expedition. Six friends venture into the cave and things start going horribly wrong.
Possible spoilers to follow
The film is set in a cavernous cave that seems hopeless enough. They went adventuring hoping to be the first group to complete the tunnels. With the hopes that they would be able to name the cave once they finished. The maze and challenges in the cave challenge the girls at every turn. Then they find out they’re not alone. The atmosphere is enough to cause a fright, but there are definitely other things to be afraid of. The creatures they encounter resemble Golem and the trolls from Lord of the Rings.
The characters are strong females that definitely pass the Bechdel test. There seems to be a sub-plot involving Juno (Natalie Mendoza) and Sarah’s husband. However, this never really gets discussed even though there are a few allusions to it. Sarah really becomes a strong character when she finds herself alone. My least favorite was Holly (Nora-Jane Noone) as she seemed the most archetypal. She is the reckless one that has an attitude for no reason and takes big risks that endanger everyone. Subsequently, she annoys me in that regard and feels the most formulaic.
The film is had me from the opening sequence. They find interesting ways to bring the suspense long before it becomes a monster movie. I was definitely concerned for the characters and wanted them all to survive. Director Neil Marshall establishes a tone and really manages to keep the tension building. I’m now curious if the second part is worth my time. All of the actresses from this film are at least in the second part so I’m curious.
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