The Descent | 
 enlarge | Director: Neil Marshall
Actors: Myanna Buring, Craig Conway, Natalie Jackson Mendoza
Studio: Pathe Distribution
Category: DVD
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £1.38
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Rating:  46 reviews
Format: Anamorphic, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5060002834633
ASIN: B000E1P370
Release Date: March 20, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Excellent Claustrophobic Horror April 30, 2007
TomBeTom (Nottinghamshire, England)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
2005's "The Descent" is definitely one of the more superior horror movies that I've seen in recent years. Effortlessy getting across to the viewer the feeling of claustrophobia and terror suffered by the group of characters unfortunate enough to find themselves in a cave inhabited by inhuman, vicious crawlers very much intent on devouring all involved "The Descent" is commendable for getting almost everything right as a horror movie. Naturally, its gotten criticism for its gore content (as if that wasn't the point) but pointless, irrelevant criticisms aside: "The Descent" is the full package. There's great acting, great suspense, great make-up, great horror scenes and the sort of gore fans of films of this nature will just lap up.
After her husband and daughter die in a tragic car crash Sarah (Shauna McDonald) is convinced by friends Juno (Natalie Jackson Mendoza), Beth (Alex Reid), Rebecca (Saskia Mulder) and Sam (MyAnna Buring) to go on a caving expedition with them. Also tagging along is Juno's friend Holly (Nora-Jane Noone). Naturally, when the group of friends eventually do go underground into the cave things take an awry turn. A tunnel collapses and it becomes apparent that they aren't alone in the dark miles underground. Now they must battle for their lives against inhuman crawlers intent on devouring them all.
Nora-Jane Noone is a fantastic british actress, that she hasn't found immense success in her career is a travesty. Once again she's superb in what isn't exactly the meatiest role of the movie (her character's fate is sealed by a pivotal event not so soon into proceedings). She shines whenever on-screen though. Shauna McDonald does an excellent job as the emotionally shattered Sarah, still struggling to come to terms with the very untimely death of her closest family members. Also of note is Natalie Jackson Mendoza, as the most adventurous of the group Juno. Her character's perhaps the most flawed, and thus she needs to do a great job portraying the many misgivings and troubles Juno has in addition to the sheer horror of the terrifying situation she finds herself in. Those are the three actresses that stand out in the nearly all-woman cast. That all being said, everyone involved does pretty great, whatever their fates.
The prospect of having almost an entire motion picture set underground sounds like a somewhat daunting task, even when considering how such darkness adds effect to any horror movie. However, the people responsible for bringing "The Descent" to the screen have brilliantly executed a movie that feels all the more claustrophobic and tense in both the design sets of the cave and the sheer size differentiations. When characters are in small spaces they're often face to face with the blind crawlers, adding to the fear factor given the crawlers make up for their non-existant eyesight with excellent hearing. And when in large spaces, the size and darkness adds up to the possible shock factor. The crawlers can sneak up on the terrified women from any angle.
"The Descent" is high on blood and gore. With both the crawlers and the supposed victims taking their fare share of stabbings, murders and mutilation throughout the crawlers may always have the scare-factor and advantage of sheer numbers over the apparently doomed women, but always promises that its not all open-and-shut in this movie.
I love it when horror movies are done as well as this. Having always been a fan of the horror genre I've been left disappointed by movies that appear to think gore passes as horror or scares. Alas, that's not the case. What's so excellent about "The Descent" is that it has the ability to scare us as well as soak the picture in blood. Thus making for an altogether superior horror that's surely not one to be missed.
 Not for casual fans of the horror genre!!! November 18, 2006
M. Alcat (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Most people recommend "The descent" as an excellent terror movie, due to the fact that it manages to make a strange story believable, and because it conveys an atmosphere of paranoia and extreme fear. The actors are quite good, and writer-director Neil Marshall should be congratulated on the fact that he made a movie that scares the living lights out of the spectator.
You are curious about the plot? Well, it involves six women that are old friends, and that meet in order to explore new caves, in an effort to cheer up one of them (Sarah, played by Shauna MacDonald) that has recently lost her family. However, things go horribly wrong when they get trapped in an unexplored cavern system, without maps of any kind. As if the claustrophobia factor were not enough, they will have to face the fact that they are not alone in the cave, as someone is hunting them. On top of that, one of the members of the group has a secret that could destroy her relationship with Sarah and the other women. That doesn't sound too scary, does it? Despite that, it is. You cannot stop watching, because you wish to know how the story ends, but there are times when you will feel the temptation of turning off the tv.
I believe that many will love this movie, but that a lot of people will hate it. I can appreciate it as an excellent example of the horror genre, but I wouldn't rent it again. The reason is that, in my opinion, "The descent" is not for casual fans of horror movies. So, if you like actions movies with an ingredient of terror but are not really into scary stuff that looks too real, give "Alien vs Predator" a try and avoid this film. On the other hand, if you love horror movies that are extremely gruesome and you cannot detach from, you will probably love "The descent". It certainly wasn't my case.
Belen Alcat
 A bit of an anti-climax. September 6, 2007
Ms. H. S. Smith (Wales)
5 out of 10 found this review helpful
So I hear off one of my friends that 'The Descent' is the creepiest, most atmospheric film she has ever seen. Obviously I had to watch it, after all, I love horror movies. I must admit however, that I was rather dissapointed, myself, when I rented and watched it. The film started out really well. They set the scene, threw in a bit of background info on the cavers, [one in particular] giving it suitibly realistic touches. I was admittedly held in suspense as they went deeper into the cave, I thought the sense of claustrophobia and paranoia was conveyed extremely well. However, I find that 'The Descent' tunred out to be just another modern horror movie, who's directors initially had a potentially great idea for a film...then got caught up in trying to shock it's viewers with flashy special effects. NOT GOOD. For one thing, why not have the cavers picked off one by one, rather than all of a sudden have the monster jump into view and attack them all at once? Surely people would be more spooked by an air of mystery than a scene of blood and guts? To be honest, audiences today are not rattled by 'gore'. There is too much of it about. And films like 'The Descent' exemplify my point that directors are feeling more and more the need to try and shock, rather than get a decent idea, develop it and conclude it with some scary bits along the way. Speaking of conclusions; who...or what, rather, were those creatures down in the cave? Were we offered an explaination? I think not! How long had they been down there? Were they unevolved human beings, as some people seem to think? Or if they were simply creatures trapped down there, forced to adapt to live in darkness, what is the deal with them coming out to hunt? All in all, 'The Descent' could have been an excellent film, but the directors lost it when it came to the finer details. I felt dissapointed as the credits rolled up. However, I give the film 2 stars because the acting was good quality and like I said, the initial idea on which the film was based was a good one.
Ascending British Horror Movies Above All Others July 22, 2006
M. Bell (UK)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The point of a horror movie is to scare you. This movie did that. This is an excellent movie, that made all my mates jump in their seats and hide their eyes behind their hands. Beautifully filmed and lighted and the fact that all the cave scenes were filmed in pinewood studios, really makes you appreciate this little UK film over other rival, Hollywood movies.
Pillow clutching time! October 8, 2007
Ms. R. J. Daly-owens (United Kingdom)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Im not usually a fan of scary movies but this one had me gripped!
If your scared of the dark and you think you can hear noises or see things when your on your own in your house, like i do, then you'll love this film!
I was on the edge of my chair but clutching a pillow at the same time. I could watch it again and again, its one of those films (gets you every time).
Personally I Loved it!
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