What do you think makes a good horror film?
Do you want nasty balls-to-the-walls gore? Neat creature effects? Or do you prefer your horror to be quiet, atmospheric, and creepy? Maybe you demand interesting character developments and plot twists? Whatever your answer is, it doesn't really matter. The Descent has it all covered.
The movie starts with a gruesome car accident, in which our main character Sarah loses both her husband and her daughter. Jump ahead a year later; a (more) stable Sarah joins her group of best friends for a spelunking trip. It's interesting to note that after the opening credits, there's literally no other character beside these six women. They dive into a cave, bad stuff happens, and they end up fighting for their life. The comparison to the horror of Alien fits. Simply replace the dark and claustrophobic spaceship with a dark and claustrophobic cave and the Xenomorphs with well, whatever those cave dwellers are.
Speaking of dark, this movie is dark. Possibly the darkest movie you'll see all year, lighting wise. In a sealed cave with no light source, the audience sees only what the characters can see, with the help of glow sticks, flash lights, flares, and, in the film's most heart-pounding, Blair Witch inspired scenes, through the night vision mode of a handycam. This creates a very tense feeling for the first half of the movie, with scares that are straight from the original The Haunting. You hear weird noises and see obscure silhouettes, but you're not sure if it's the dark playing tricks. You're just on the edge of your seat, just waiting for something to jump out of the black. Exactly what the characters feel, too. In a way, if you've seen the creatures in the trailers and ads, you have been spoiled. Before I first saw the film, the only thing I saw was a teaser trailer that showed the girls climbing into a cave and getting trapped. That's all. When the creatures suddenly popped out, it was a treat.
Those who expect bloody mauling and kickass gore will get their fill in the second half of the movie. After the cave dwellers show up, it's nothing but non-stop action and a hearty dose of jump scares, with plenty of red. There is a strange trend in horror movies, where the women are always either completely helpless and annoyingly hysterical (see: The Hills Have Eyes remake) or somehow trained and deadly a la Buffy. The Descent gives you real women with limited everyday abilities, but not canon-fodder. They are strong and smart. When they have something to protect, they fight back, and they fight dirty. It's genuinely a rush to watch.
It's a shame that Lionsgate decided to change the ending for the American cut. The final twist ending of this movie really rounds up the story, and it's the strongest thematic element of Sarah's character, not to mention that it directly ties into the film's title. I have seen both versions, and the American cut opts for an open, "WTF?" ending that makes no sense. Again, it's a shame because the twist really turns the film upside down. Maybe they're saving it for the DVD. Fortunately, it's about the only thing they cut, so viewers shouldn't be discouraged. The movie is still one hell of a ride.
Writer and Director Neil Marshall -- whose previous credit includes the already cult classic Dog Soldiers -- amps up the scares and character development for this one. While his previous effort was an amazingly fun blend of action, comedy, and gore, this time around he's ready to truly scare your pants off. You can say that Dog Soldiers was his Aliens, and The Descent is his Alien. Keep an eye on this guy. He's making waves. If someone tells you that The Descent is the scariest movie they've seen, hey, believe them.
Go see this movie, and have a rollicking good time. But if you ever have the opportunity, go find the original cut. It'll make the film that much better.
"The Descent" opens August 4, 2006 and is rated R. Horror. Written and directed by Neil Marshall. Starring Alex Reid, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Saskia Mulder, Shauna Macdonald.
