The Descent
“The Descent”, in the genre of horror/thriller films, provides just enough scares and intrigue to make one think twice about exploring caves and scores a C+…
British writer/director, Neil Marshall, has a distinctive style that became apparent with his film “Dog Soldiers” (2002). He uses diverse characters of varying personalities, with plenty of issues and draws us right in. Marshall’s directorial style is quite refreshing. He works very tight with his camera shots looking right into the eyes of his characters, follows the cinematic rules very closely, and bends or breaks those rules to provide the scares! An example is jump-cutting to a POV (point of view) shot instead of a straight cut to it. And, Marshall does it with minimum blood and gore, just good old fashion terror. The tagline sums it up nicely…
Neil Marshall’s 2002 first movie “Dog Soldiers” involved a group of men in the back-country of Scotland where they fought for their lives against werewolves. “The Descent” is his same basic formula with women, the setting is a cave system beneath the Appalachian Mountains. Without getting too technical (since I’ve worked in the industry for over 22 years) those aspects jump out at me. In “The Descent” Neil Marshall and his cinematographer Sam McCurdy shoot the scenes in darkness, and highlight spirals of light to cast eerie shadows. When most of the screen is black, the surrounding tunnel with its emptiness, creates a foreboding feeling of real or imagined dangers. The composition of the various scenes make set up an atmosphere of tension and the unknown.
Overall the story is very simplistic. Six long time girlfriends plan and go on various types of adventures and excursions. It’s the counter side to a group of men who go fishing one year, hunting the next, and maybe rafting the following year. The six friends are clearly defined with diverse personalities with each of them having a definitive strong point. “The Descent” opens with Sarah’s (Shauna Macdonald), tragedy. In a terrible car accident her family is killed losing her husband and young daughter. She’s working hard to get passed it.
A year later, Sarah and Beth (Alex Reid and Sarah’s best friend), who’s really concerned and helping Sarah get through the year old tragedy. Juno (Natalie Mendoza) is the leader of the group and the organizer of the events the girls undertake. Juno is also the risk-taking member of the group who comes up with the idea of exploring the subterranean Appalachia Mountain caves and leads the expedition. Also part of the group is Holly (Nora Jane-Noone) a fun and lively thrill-seeker and a bit reckless, and half-sisters Rebecca (Saskia Mulder) and Sam (MyAnna Buring), a medical student. As you know, I don’t give away clues or an ending and don’t let anyone else tell you anything about the movie before you see it. The ride is a lot more fun if you don’t know where it’s headed or who is going to make it back from “The Descent”…
Grade: C+