The Descent (2005) Movie Review, Cast & Crew, Film Summary

Neil Marshall’s second exercise in studying a besieged group in a remote place at the mercy of monsters is well-made, and fairly gripping, but dramatically slight, and walks literally into a dead end. The hints of a misanthropic “people are more dangerous monsters” theme weren’t pursued with much zest, and the undercurrents suggested never build to anything of consequence. It’ really just another chase-and-chomp yarn. Sarah’s (Shauna Macdonald) eventual murder of her last remaining companion, being the fulfillment of a weak and under-developed sub-plot, came across as stridently illogical. It lacks Dog Soldiers’ deft characterization and impudent humour, replacing it with fashionable grimness and clunky dream sequences. The music’s constant evocation of Ennio Morricone’s score for The Thing had me wondering when Kurt Russell was going to stumble in.