The Descent

[warlock]

Saw this last week. For those in the dark, it is about a bunch of female friends who go caving in the Appalacian mountains. They become lost and then start to be picked off by something in the caves. Their numbers dwindle as they turn on each other, and realise they are the prey to creatures who live down there...

It's directed by Neil Marshall, who previously directed Dog Soldiers, a British horror film about a squad of troopers in training stumbling across a family of werewolves. While I enjoyed Dog Soldiers, The Descent is a far more accomplised work, apart from the over-long introduction it stays tense and taut throughout, there are some very good fight and death scenes, and it is very very gory. About time too, with horror films beginning to shy away from showing deaths nowadays. When I saw it the audience were wincing and shouting out as the friends were dispatched in various nasty ways...I haven't had much fun in the cinema for ages, definitely gets my recommendation.

[Foxbat]

I enjoyed Dog Soldiers so I think I'll have to give this one a visit. If it's anywhere as good as his previous movie, it should be fun.

[neoncowboy]

I would totally agree - this film is amazing. I don't think I've been quite so terrorised in the cinema recently. It's pushing all the wrong buttons! - I'm claustrophobic so I was anxious before anything happened - simply because of the potholing. I used to have nightmares about potholing.

My only criticism would be the ending - not going to ruin it for those of you who havn't seen it, but I think that it was a bit confusing in a bad way. It kind of left me frustrated more than anything else.

[ravenus]

Haven't seen this movie but it seems to me a bit disappointing though that he should pick such a similar plotline as Dog Soldiers had.

[neoncowboy]

There are similarities with the plotline, but the perspective is completely different. Whereas DS was a kind of jovial, gross out, campy film, "the Descent" genuinely horrifies in a rather brutal and primal way. Go see it. In many ways it's the better of the two.

[lazygun]

Just seen it myself and enjoyed it.
Mostly for the blood,guts and almost entirely female cast.
And like Warlock said,it does what a good horror movie should do,...make you JUMP!.
Beats Dog Soldiers on the horror front in my opinion, hands down.But then D.S.was much more Humour inspired.
Anyways,would say it was well worth a watch.

[Rosemary]

[quote=lazygun]Just seen it myself and enjoyed it.
Mostly for the blood,guts and almost entirely female cast.
And like Warlock said,it does what a good horror movie should do,...make you JUMP!. QUOTE]

I haven't seen this film yet neither have I seen many really good horror movies for decades. As you mention lazygun, blood, guts and female cast (nothing wrong with female cast). The movie goer should not see 'everything'. A truly frightening horror movie is or should be made with the 'anticipation and dread, that something is about to happen'. You know and feel that something terrible is going to happen, and suddenly it does. The music, atmosphere surrounding the actor/s should all add up, to build that feeling of terror inside of you, more so than the blood and guts flying everywhere.

[lazygun]

I think i understand what you're driving at Rosemary,in your accurate description of what makes a great Horror movie.
Would rate,"The Descent" as a good Horror movie not a great one.
I personally prefer some blood'n'guts in my Horror movies as opposed to the more cerebral method/style.
Actually found "The Descent" restraind to what i have seen recently,Horror-wise.
I would be very intrested to read what you think if you get around to watching it,especially considering your fine grasp of the genre.

[knivesout]

The novel it was rather loosely based on looks like being a little more interesting and scary: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/...cent/book.html

Still, a party of girl spelunkers being harrased by scary subterranean creatures - I can't see how you can go wrong with a premise like that.

[a|one]

I just read the preview chapter from the site you posted knivesout, it actually seems quite well written IMO. And definitely sounds more intriguing than the movie...

[kyektulu]

I watched this film last night.
It didnt live up to my rather high expectations.
The 'monsters' looked like something on buffy before the watershed and there was WAY to much girly shrieking for my taste.