Neil Marshall has managed to create a low-budget but big-fright film in The Descent. And not all the scares happen when the predators are on screen.
The setting of the caves themselves is enough to send any claustrophobic person into fits. But Marshall manages to stir up fear in those of us who don't suffer from it-and make us second-guess ever going cave exploring after seeing this thrill ride.
Though I won't be getting into story specifics, I'm glad the film chose to focus on the story and characters for the first bit. You get a sense of who some of them are. And when the tension starts to ratchet up, you see who they really are.
The camera work is tight, and though the low-budget effects are prevalent at some points, I personally don't mind them. There's a grittiness that comes with the film being set in the setting it is, and the less-than-impressive CGI doesn't hamper it too much.
Likewise, the acting's solid. Both Shauna Macdonald & Natalie Mendoza give worthwhile performances, though the the other characters don't get as much development.
The beasts/monsters/predators in this film also blend a uniqueness with tried-and-true horror. Excellent work.
Don't miss The Descent. I'm not a huge monster movie guy, it all comes down to the execution (no pun intended). But this one nails it in spades.
The setting of the caves themselves is enough to send any claustrophobic person into fits. But Marshall manages to stir up fear in those of us who don't suffer from it-and make us second-guess ever going cave exploring after seeing this thrill ride.
Though I won't be getting into story specifics, I'm glad the film chose to focus on the story and characters for the first bit. You get a sense of who some of them are. And when the tension starts to ratchet up, you see who they really are.
The camera work is tight, and though the low-budget effects are prevalent at some points, I personally don't mind them. There's a grittiness that comes with the film being set in the setting it is, and the less-than-impressive CGI doesn't hamper it too much.
Likewise, the acting's solid. Both Shauna Macdonald & Natalie Mendoza give worthwhile performances, though the the other characters don't get as much development.
The beasts/monsters/predators in this film also blend a uniqueness with tried-and-true horror. Excellent work.
Don't miss The Descent. I'm not a huge monster movie guy, it all comes down to the execution (no pun intended). But this one nails it in spades.