Talk us through itSix female friends embark on a caving expedition with only one of them aware they are exploring a cave system which hasn't been mapped. This happens a year after a rafting trip leads to the death of one woman's husband as he's about to tell her something. Keep a note of that as it plays an important part in the movie's resolution. Having ventured into the cave things start to go pear-shaped on the ladies very quickly. A cave-in traps the chicks deep underground, but this turns out to be the least of their worries. Cut off from the surface, separated in the dark, and facing some particularly nasty denizens of the deep, it's not looking good for anyone surviving through to the end credits. Who will make it out alive, what condition will they be in, and what their mental state will be is the question Director Marshall poises for the audience. Man, was I digging that concept! Grab your pick axe you're going to need it ...... Let's see what's in the dark ....
Review"The noise she's making, she'll bring every one of those things down on her head." - Rebecca.Neil Marshall rocked the horror community with his first movie, Dog Soldiers, which has become a cult classic and is a very serious contender for best werewolf flick of the decade. As such his follow-up, The Descent, was for this reviewer one of the most anticipated horror outings of the year. There's a real danger in this, as horror movies which have a built-in expectation have a tendancy to fail in the delivery stride. I was very pleased that Marshall not only delivered on the promise of his previous film, but has actually made a superior movie experience for anyone fortunate enough to catch this one! Bored with Hollywood remakes, teen horror lite, and torture flicks? Then rest assured that Marshall comes at you full tilt with a core horror outing that actually seeks to scare the pants off the audience. Marshall isn't pulling his punches with this film, and boy, you will be entertained. Let's get down to business. As I keep saying, horror movies must work first and foremost as movies. Very simple concept, pity a lot of other horror Directors don't get it. Marshall builds this one slowly in the first act, so that we get to know the characters, find out a little of their backgrounds, and are rooting for them to make it through the film. Don't expect any trite Boredwood resolutions here, Marshall is making an actual horror movie, and he's going after your expectations very quickly indeed. The movie opens with a couple of our characters rafting down some white water river. Marshall immediately injects a wall of noise approach, which is offset by quick cuts to almost silent scenes. This will continue throughout the film, but don't get fooled into believing a loud soundtrack is going to point out an upcoming scare scene. The Director is playing with your expectations from the word go in The Descent. Having completed the rafting shenanigans, and yes I did expect one of the characters to get wet, we next cut to a couple driving home. The audience at this stage is starting to relax, but bam! The first scare scene coming at you hard and fast. Marshall is on song with his scare tactics, and he doesn't let up with them during the course of the movie. It's Marshall's ability to out think audience expectations that really does make this movie a must-see in my honest opinion. Any preconceived notions about horror cliches are really out the window with The Descent. In doing this, Marshall ramps the scare factor off the frigging map, and you will be jumping out of your seat like your bum's on fire. The Director builds the tension throughout, but the quick scares thrown in had me grinning from ear to ear. 
he gore factor might put some people off the movie, there's plenty of claret being spread around in the second half of the picture. If you dig horror/comedies like Evil Dead then you are going to get a blast out of The Descent. Marshall goes over the top with some scenes, but he's winking at the audience with it. Dug the slight nods to Evil Dead's hero Ash, and if I'm not mistaken a brief Land of the Dead inspired scene. Horror buffs will be right at home in this movie. Marshall goes hard with his death scenes, but unlike lesser directors in the genre isn't simply focusing on them to cover up a substandard movie. The Director does quick cuts throughout the film, so you get your coin's worth in death-dealing, but don't have your nose rubbed in it. Marshall is spot on with his use of darkness and light. There's a real feeling of claustrophobia in this film, and the director narrow-angles in places to keep that right at the top of your list of things to feel uneasy about while the movie unfolds. Lighting is primarily via headlamps, glow sticks, and the occasional flare. Excellent concept which Marshall uses to the fullest extent. Loved the use of the hand cam at one stage, holy flock I almost pooed myself on the spot! There are outstanding performances all round from the largely female cast. Sorry ladies, nothing in the way of eye-candy for the gals in this one. Shauna Macdonald (Sarah) is particularly noteworthy, and if you were wondering whether or not the movie title is a play on words, then look no further than Macdonald's performance in this one. The chick does psycho better than Jason Voorhees! T&A isn't on Marshall's agenda in The Descent. Sorry boys, the director isn't pandering to the PG-13 crowd and there's nary a boob in sight. We do get one chick in her PJs but this is more a light relief moment than a tissue-grabbing one. Get a copy of Penthouse on the way home from the movie if after gratuitous nekkid chick action. An outstanding score is turned in by David Julyan and we are spared the loud rock, and the even more abysmal hip-hop some movie makers tend to spruce their work up with. Marshall uses the score as needed but really hits a homer with background noises, water dripping off the cave roof, echoes, etc. Audio-wise this film rocks the house down in an understated yet eerie fashion. uick mention of the creatures and we'll call it a wrap. Like the werewolves in Dog Soldiers, Marshall here uses real actors with makeup and costumes. This is a welcome feature of the Director's work, as nothing works quite like people doing the creature bits. Personally I applaud Marshall's decision to have nothing to do with CGI.
Summary ExecutionThe Descent will have your pulse running, will have you jumping out of your seat constantly, and will make you switch the old bedside lamp on prior to trying for some sleep afterwards. A good old fashioned horror movie that attempts to scare the pants off the audience. Forget the Hollywood remakes and the teen horror lite outings, this film is the real deal made by people who understand the genre. The movie will have you screaming, laughing, and cheering on the leads. Caves are naturally dark, eerie, and almost otherworldly; Marshall asks the audience to imagine just what might be lurking down there ... in the darkness, waiting for the unwary. You will have to watch the movie to find out if you dare.Did I enjoy The Descent? Hell yeah!!! Huge recommendation from my seat in the 25th row of a packed movie screening. If you love horror movies, or even catch only the odd one each year, then this is a must-see movie. Even if you don't like horror, I would still urge you to book a seat to see this film. The Descent is destined to be a horror classic in coming years, it's a movie that must be seen on the big screen to get the full impact, and you will enjoy. The Descent is being released in Australia and the U.S on or around Nov 2* this year. SM got a preview screening thanks to the lovely Lisa of distributor Icon Downunder. We extend our thanks to Lisa for the opportunity to catch the movie. Will I be backing up for another viewing on release day? You betcha arse I will be! Catch you down Hoyts ... in the dark .... and then the screaming starts! * - This review was written prior to The Descent opening in Australia back in 2005. Since it's five years later you will now need to score the DVD to see what's in the dark. I backed up my preview screening with a regular session and then brought the DVD. Clearly for mine one of the best horror movies to be released in the new Century. Neil Marshall is a new talent worth keeping an eye on.
ScaryMinds Rates this movie as ... Simply a great horror movie than pays back our faith in the dark genre.
|
