The Descent (2005)
I thought the ending was sad. The real ending I mean.
I thought it was genuinely really scary. It probably depends on the person. I’m pretty claustrophobic, so it might not have been scary for you, but I found it scary when she’s stuck in that cavern and couldn’t move because that’s a genuine fear of mine. I’m afraid of caves and spelunking and I think the movie really amplifies that feeling of being alone underground, completely trapped, alone. It makes it even worse that they’re being chased.
Personally, though, I think it may have been even scarier without the monsters. The monsters made it more of an action movie than a terror. Yeah, they were scary! They just made it more of a thriller. They made it suspenseful. The atmosphere by itself, just the sounds of them being chased, was even scarier than when the monsters were on screen. They left some things unexplained. Like the one monster that had hair when none of the rest of them did.
I didn’t expect the cinematography to be so good! You don’t always think of it in a horror movie, but while the movie was scary, the cinematography was also mind-blowing. How it changes, the lighting. The lighting in the beginning was so depressing. It was almost overwhelming how bleak and barren the lighting made it feel. Blue, green, gray, it was very, very dark. And then when they were inside the cave, the lighting was turning into more red, dark, black, yellow. It was very monochrome. It did feel kind of like Suspiria, but darker. Not like a dark story, but as in the lighting was darker. There was the red, green, and yellow from the flares, the glow sticks, and the torches. It was really impressive when they managed to have the only light source be the headlamps.
The one scene where she was crawling up the pile of bones was AMAZING! I loved the cinematography. I didn’t expect it to be so good. It was really impressive how she looked like Carrie at the end. Even though I’ve never seen that movie [yet!], I was able to recognize that!
And the hospital scene where she’s running through the dark hall. That was also very suspenseful.
Scary: 4
It was pretty scary. It was scary because I’m so claustrophobic. I just, uueeehhh. It’s about not being able to get out. Every time I have a nightmare, there’s something about being trapped in a small space. I feel like the scary came from the monsters. It was like oh my god the monsters are chasing them, and their teeth are gross, and they’re blind, but I really feel that what the cave was good at was the creepy category.
Creepy: 5
I found it very creepy because I’m so claustrophobic. And the music! The way the shrill violin was playing when they got trapped! It was so creepy, it gave me jitters. I felt like it was creepy because, afterwards, you feel like “Oh I’m soooo glad I’m not trapped in a dark cavern like with shrill violins playing while I can’t move my legs because I’m trapped in a dark hole….”
Disturbing: 3.5
It was pretty disturbing because of just how gross it was. I hate broken bones, I couldn’t even watch. I feel like the disturbing category just focuses on gore. Being eaten and ripped apart, that’s gross too, obviously! It was gross. When you think about dying in a cave, you never get a proper burial, no one ever knows where you went, when you think about those poor people who are trapped in there forever alone! So I guess that was pretty disturbing, too, when you think about it.
Suspenseful: 4
Pretty suspenseful because of the monsters, and when they were trapped in the small space...and oh god when they were climbing across the ceiling? I was like WHEN are they going to get to the other side, I can’t bear to watch this. When the ceiling was crashing while they were stuck? I don’t think I would be able to handle that. I feel like the monsters were so thrilling: the monsters made it thrilling, but the atmosphere made it creepy. Suspense and thrill are good, but overall I want it to SCARE you. It was too actiony with the camera throwing everywhere. The tight spaces were just scarier for me.
I feel like the jump scares were really good. They really got you. At first they felt cheap, but then you realize, oh this is needed. They make it really thrilling.
One looming quiet creature with long arms would have been scarier than those growling dogs.
Good: 3.5
I felt the characters were underdeveloped. The beginning felt slow. The accents were so bad. So it wasn’t the best movie-wise, but cinematography-wise, and claustrophobia-wise, it really got me. The music was also very thrilling. At first you were like “this is overdramatic,” but then you realize it fits. As it goes on, you realize the music was amazing. The music changed when they got into the cave. It went from this swelling orchestra to this one intense violin. I would have given it a little lower rating if it wasn’t for the amazing cinematography and claustrophobic atmosphere. F
or the ending(s)...when a movie ends on a depressing note with no hope, I feel like I wasted my time. I know some people like that, but personally, it’s not for me. For me to invest in all the characters for it to just build up into this, like, drop . . .
I freaking liked Holly! And Juno was hot! Holly was so cool! I loved her hair!
It was like Sarah emerged out of the blood as one of the monsters. At the end, she had this look on her face, like she knew she was going to become one with the cave. It was good.
I wrote these film reviews when I was 14. Hire me to draw. -Lillian Schrag
