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The Descent

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The Descent (2006)

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Reviews Counted:159

Fresh:134

Rotten:25

Average Rating:7.3/10

Consensus: Deft direction and strong performances from its all-female cast guide The Descent, a riveting, claustrophobic horror film. In this low-budget import from Scotland, director Neil Marshall has masterfully created a spelunking nightmare, which doubles as a compelling meditation on morality, vengeance, and the depths to which we might go for survival.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong violence/gore and language.

Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Aug 4, 2006 Wide

Box Office: $26,005,908

Synopsis: THE DESCENT is Neil Marshall’s hotly anticipated follow up to his 2002 hit DOG SOLDIERS. Directed by Marshall from his own script, it tells the story of an all-female caving expedition that goes... THE DESCENT is Neil Marshall’s hotly anticipated follow up to his 2002 hit DOG SOLDIERS. Directed by Marshall from his own script, it tells the story of an all-female caving expedition that goes horribly wrong, and stars Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone and Myanna Buring. Set in a cave system deep in the Appalachian Mountains, Marshall describes his film as ‘DELIVERANCE goes underground’. On a daredevil caving holiday, six women friends are unexpectedly trapped underground when a rock fall blocks their exit. Searching the maze of tunnels for a way out, they find themselves hunted by a race of fearless, hungry predators, once humanoid but now monstrously adapted to live in the dark… As the others battle for their lives, Sarah (Macdonald), still recovering from a mental collapse brought on by the recent deaths of her family, is fighting for her sanity. When old secrets are revealed, the friends turn on one another, causing the group to implode. Betrayed and desperate, Sarah realizes that to make it back to the surface, she must become as savage as the creatures themselves. THE DESCENT was filmed on location in Scotland and at Pinewood Studios from December 2004 to February 2005, and was fully financed and produced by Celador Films. Celador’s Paul Smith is executive producer and Christian Colson is producer. The film reunites Marshall with DOG SOLDIERS’ director of photography, Sam McCurdy, and production designer, Simon Bowles. Celador’s previous credits include the Oscar-nominated DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. THE DESCENT movie has already had a hugely successful release both critically and commercially in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. In September, 2005 the film took the top competition prize -- the Méliès d’Argent -- for Euro feature at Lund International Fantastic Film Festival in Sweden, and in November, Neil Marshall won Best Director and the film Best Technical Achievement (for the Editing) at the British Independent Films Awards (BIFA's) (THE DESCENT was nominated for Best Film). It has also been nominated for Best British Film, Best British Director and Best British Producer by the London Film Critics Circle (the winners are announced in February), an unheard of achievement for a genre piece. --© Lionsgate Films [More]

Starring: Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder

Starring: Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone, MyAnna Buring, Oliver Milburn, Molly Kayll

Director: Neil Marshall

Director: Neil Marshall
Producer: Christian Colson
Screenwriter: Neil Marshall
Composer: David Julyan
Studio: Lions Gate Films

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Release:

Dec 26, 2006

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Reviews for The Descent

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141 - 160 (sorted by date)
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A harrowing, brutal piece of work -- my hand was over my mouth for the last 30 minutes, lest I scream like a little girl on fire. Not to be missed.

Full Review Source: Freeze Dried Movies | comment Comment
07/28/06
Brian Juergens
Brian Juergens
Freeze Dried Movies

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Scott Mantz' Movie Reviews | comment Comment
07/28/06
Scott A. Mantz
Scott A. Mantz
Scott Mantz' Movie Reviews

Descent is everything The Cave wasn't: edge-of-your-seat terrifying, atmospheric, and frightfully inventive.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
07/28/06
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
FilmJerk.com

One of the most physically demanding and dramatically rewarding examples of the genre since Saw.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
07/18/06
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Essentially a more grave, and less unintentionally hilarious, version of The Cave.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
07/17/06
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

The Descent pulls you down into a dark nightmare and doesn't let you come up for air until the end-credits roll.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
07/12/06
Staci Layne Wilson
Staci Layne Wilson
About.com

Neil Marshall's creepfest may see more feminist deconstruction than the original Alien, contemplation the film's unthinkingly slick surface invites but doesn't merit.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
05/05/06
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

The Descent is very simply the scariest film I've seen in years.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
04/27/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

The most effective cinematic chiller since "Alien". * * * *

Full Review Source: Moviehole | comment Comment
04/15/06
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

[W]ill inspire boys and girls who like the genre even though it could be read as a tale about the battle between the sexes.

Full Review Source: european-films.net | comment Comment
03/27/06
Boyd van Hoeij
Boyd van Hoeij
european-films.net

Bring a change of pants, because this one's a soiler.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment 1 Comment
02/18/06
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

...genuinely frightening...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/06
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

Packed with slick surprises, jarring jolts, gruesome gore, and unbearable tension, The Descent is one of the best horror films of the past several years.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
08/28/05
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

Incrivelmente eficaz, este suspense mantém um clima de tensão e claustrofobia constante e ainda tem o mérito de investir em um elenco exclusivamente feminino.

comment Comment
07/25/05
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

This dark labyrinth of trauma, treachery and troglodytes sets terrifying traps for the mind.

Full Review Source: Movie Gazette | comment Comment
07/13/05
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Movie Gazette

Far too gory for any but the very strongest of stomachs, this is nonetheless intelligent and well constructed horror fare.

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
07/10/05
Scott Andrews
Scott Andrews
FilmFocus

Marshall has a definite eye for the memorably nasty image – several of the shots here are liable to stay with you long after you’ve forgotten the rest of the film.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
07/09/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Brutal, bloody, terrifying, astonishing.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
07/08/05
Dan Jolin
Dan Jolin
Empire Magazine

Incredibly, Marshall is now being talked of as the great white hope of British horror. Now that is scary.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
07/08/05
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

Thanks to its skilful director, well-cast actors and talented technical team, this fiercely entertaining British horror movie has blood, guts and brains.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
07/07/05
Time Out
 
 
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Latest News for The Descent

June 12, 2009: Neil Marshall in Talks for New Predator? Opens in new window
According to Bloody Disgusting, you'll never guess who's in talks to direct the new "Predator" movie...unless you guess Neil Marshall ("The Descent"). More...

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