Caffeinated Clint
This adrenaline-pumping scarefest might just be the most effective cinematic chiller since “Alien” (1979), and encompasses just as strong female heroines as Ellen Ripley too. Not for the squeamish, but definitely for the horror boffin who looks their films as icky as they’re imaginative, “The Descent” is well worth a peekaboo – so long as a pillow’s in close proximity.
Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder
Oh, so that’s why the U.K Customs office has acknowledged an increase in the importation of corn syrup – The Queen’s Country is the new home of horror. OK, so the Brits have had their finger in the gore for a while now – with the troupes Hammer, AMICUS and TIGON all adding something to the genre in their time– and are king when it comes to DVD releases of any genre fave – Anchor Bay, we bow at your pearly gate – but in the last five years, especially with folks like Neil Marshall (“Dog Soldiers”) staying put and making hair-raisers there, it’s becoming more and more evident that the British Horror Industry is a force to be reckoned with.
“The Descent”, the new film from the abovementioned Marshall, will have Hollywood sobbing frenziedly. ‘Why, Oh, Why – can’t we do that?’ the exec blubbers, as he tallies up his returns on “The Fog” remake.
Answer? Easy, fellas: ‘You’re more interested in a pretty young cast, showcasing special effects and repeating what’s done before. Marshall, on the other hand, seems to realise that if a film’s to have any staying power, it’s got to be unique, put character before cast, and largely, be scary – and not just ‘Oh no, Tom Welling’s going to be gobbled up by the mist, scary, – Run Superman Run!’. We’re talking frightening. Shit ya pants scary’.
“The Descent”, though more than just ick and eww, is definitely Goosebumps ripe. It tells of a group of go-getting female friends – one of whom lost her child in a tragic car wreck the year before – who get together for yet another of their unwise adventure trips. This one involves heading down into a cave – in the middle of nowhere, mind you – that they ultimately discover is filled with…. well, that would be telling wouldn’t it?
What’s effective about this one – and Marshall’s last film “Dog Soldiers” – is that you not only care about the characters (credit then to the mostly-unknown cast that play them), but you’re swept up in their quandary. In this case, you’re in the caves with them and sucked right into the claustrophobic nightmare yourself. And for once, there’s hardly no special effect, overwhelming music score or cheesy ‘cat jumps out’ moments to entice such emotion.
This adrenaline-pumping scarefest might just be the most effective cinematic chiller since “Alien” (1979), and encompasses just as strong female heroines as Ellen Ripley too. Not for the squeamish, but definitely for the horror boffin who looks their films as icky as they’re imaginative, “The Descent” is well worth a peekaboo – so long as a pillow’s in close proximity.
Oh, you want DVD extras? There’s a cave-load here! commentaries, featurettes, cut scenes… you’ll know everything there is to know about the movie by the time you’ve scanned through them all.
Rating : 
Reviewer : Clint Morris
