I'm surprised no one's decided to exhume this thread considering the film hit North America a week ago. Anyway, I saw it so I figured I would rather than senselessly starting a new thread.

I feel confident in saying this is the second solid horror movie I've seen this year. Like Hostel, it was perhaps a little overhyped but not nearly as much (at least Neil Marshall didn't mention names that automatically set standards for his film he couldn't live up to). Nevertheless, I thought it was a supurbly made, original horror movie.

The highlight of The Descent was definitely the atmosphere. I think this is one of the only horror movies I've seen that featured "true darkness," meaning the light seen on screen (helmet lights, flashlights, glowsticks, etc.) were the only ones on screen. It really set a realistic tone for the film. I think all horror movies should be done this way.

There were some cheap scares but weren't played off as obnoxiously melodramatic as most American horror movies. For the most part, it was the suspense that drove the film and the monsters (crawlers, I believe?) were actually pretty hideous for a change; they didn't look like they came straight out of K&B Workshop. I particularly liked the underwater monster. That scene definitely brought Lucio Fulci's Zombie to mind.

I actually believe the film could've been equally enticing without the monsters and just the women trapped in a cave. I've been caving myself on several occasions and what I saw on screen felt pretty realistic to me. It's also a scary thought to be trapped in a cave, like these characters, and the scene of traversing the underground cliff was also pretty suspenseful.

I actually enjoyed the third act. After two acts of slow pacing and suspenseful, I think it's forgivable to turn the story into a splatterfest. This doesn't apply to all horror movies but for this one, I think it did. I was also very impressed by the very end of the film, regarding the closure to the surviving characters. I didn't think Hollywood was capable of having an ending like this. It felt much more shocking and true to life. I don't know how the original ending went but I liked this one a lot. It felt like something I would write into one of my own scripts.

All in all, very solid horror flick with most, if not, all the right elements in place. If you're into this kind of thing, I highly recommend you check out The Descent.

I thought the Descent was one of the best movies to come out last year! I was practically blown away by it. It was the first movie in years to actually frighten me.

I love the slow build up, and the characters and for once I actually thought the tension between the characters was just as unnerving as the physichal threat in the creatures (most of the time I find when people say that the suspense is BETWEEN the characters it's a bunch of pretentious crap).

I've heard the argument about the last 30 minutes being standard hack'n slash before, but I disagree. While the final act has much more pace and action, I feel they pull it off without it seeming mindless and gratuitous. For one reason: Sarah. Her transformation and vengeance is the catalyst and all the violence and terror that ensues is just an extension of her. In other words I found it to be completely apt.

I love the Descent and own it on DVD but think I'm gonnoa have put down money for the special edition soon.

Now let's wait for the Hollywood remake starring Buffy.

How did the movie end for those of you who saw the film in American theaters?

I'm curious 'cause I heard all sorts of shit.

Man, I remember seeing The Descent in the cinema more than a year ago. I've still got the ticket for it and the date reads 16th of July 2005! I was surprised to see this just coming out in the states but I guess with this type of film, it's better late than never. You get such a brilliant experience from the cinema. It's probably one of the most scariest films I've seen to date and it wasn't annoying like a load of other horror movies in the way the script and some of the characters are so stupid and pathetic. The character's in The Descent were great... being an all female cast, I think that's really cool. It's different and so was the entire movie. There's not a lot of resemblance to The Cave really other than they're both in a cave. I'm pretty sure no one copied off anyone seeing as they both came out almost the same time (over in the UK anyway). Of course, The Descent is the only cave horror you should see right now.

I guess I can actually admit that parts of this film inspired me to write my upcoming horror title The Vent. Its claustrophobic, dark look and feel was one scary ass thing to watch and those 'crawlers' were pretty damn scary too.

I can safely say that I would recommend this to anyone who loves horror or would love to feel your heart racing and your body sweating pints. It's the way a horror movie should be made and what a horror movie should make you feel.

GBM

I really didn't want to see this movie but my friend dragged me to it. She said she almost fell asleep during the first hour but when things started to pick up, they really started to pick up. And, dear God, that chick was terrifying. Both the main, main characters were when they were hacking at the monsters. That blonde chick looked like Carrie for last 15 minutes. But, it was funny because we were surrounded by teenagers and when something jumped out, you'd hear all these cuss words than everybody chuckling.

I liked how all the characters were women. That's strange for a horror film. And there was no sex that usually is added on to slasher films. And British!

I read in Entertainment Weekly that the original ending was cut for the release in the U.S. Bummer. But the ending was OK. That last, rather cliched jump before the credits. All in all, it was good. And that pond of blood made me gag. God, that was terrible.

SPOILER WARNING FOR THE AMERICAN ENDING:

So the American cut ends with Juno suddenly sitting next to her in the car or something like that?

SPOILER END

You must see the original ending then! I can't stress this enough! It completely changes the film. It's so much more...disturbing.

Saw "Descent" last week and I can't tell if it's great, or just very good because of the over-hyping.
I had the same reaction with "Dog Soldiers."
A second viewing of the latter film convinced me it was not just great, but one of my all-time werewolf faves.
I'm hoping for the same reaction of Descent with another viewing.

SPOILERS

Do not view the following until you've seen the film.

For those of us who have seen the movie, but have not had the pleasure of seeing the UK ending, take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wP7zx8ecqY

Then be the judge.

I prefer the UK version.

Quoted from Abe from LA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wP7zx8ecqY

Thanks for the link, Abe.

SPOILERS...

Whoa, she's lost it for sure. It seems to me the last scene is a hallucination to show that in her mind, she's still in the cave. Very cool. I wish this had been included in the version I saw.

Quoted from James McClung Thanks for the link, Abe. SPOILERS... Whoa, she's lost it for sure. It seems to me the last scene is a hallucination to show that in her mind, she's still in the cave. Very cool. I wish this had been included in the version I saw.

STILL SPOILERS

That's one interpretation. But I remember Neill Marshall saying on the commentary that she doesn't ever leave the cave, neither mentally nor physichally.

I think she imagines her escape, which is why it makes sense that Juno appears even though she surely died.

I just love how she hunches exactly like the creatures in the end!

SPOILERS




That was a more realistic ending. A couple people on YouTube suggested that there were no crawlers at all, that Sarah killed all her friends (seeing as she killed 5 "crawlers" the same number of friends in the cave) but that kind of calls Juno into question.

That chick is absolutely insane.

Quoted from Impulse SPOILERS That was a more realistic ending. A couple people on YouTube suggested that there were no crawlers at all, that Sarah killed all her friends (seeing as she killed 5 "crawlers" the same number of friends in the cave) but that kind of calls Juno into question. That chick is absolutely insane.

Yeah I've heard that as well. It's neat speculation, but ultimately probably a bit too complex for its own good, you know? Like you said, it begs the question: what about Juno?

It's funny, ever since The Usual Suspects, Fight Club and The Sixth Sense people are beginning to see 'dream endings', split personalities and metaphors everywhere!

"I see, so it was all in her head...?"  

Alright, just read EW's review for the Decent. Let me tell you, I am shocked. They gave it an A!!! I thought this movie was going to be a bomb, but hey. I guess I'm wrong.

Cant wait to see it.

Ok, so I'm slow to post.

I just finished watching this movie. Not horrible, but fell way short of my expectations. I was so convinced that I would love this film, but I'm sorry to say, I did not.

THE biggest problem was that I didn't give a rodents derrier about any of the characters. I just finished watching it and I can't for my life remember any of the character's names.

I also wished they would have delayed showing the monsters. They were just plain silly, and why did they sound like THE PREDATOR in same named film?

I'm no expert on Native Americans, but why are they always portrayed as people only capable of doodling buffalos? Were there a lot of buffalos on the steep hills of Appalachia?

Anyway, like I said, it wasn't horrible, but it sure fell way short of my expectations.

I love this movie so much. The best of 2006. It's scary and can portray real-life situations (well, maybe the crawlers can happen ). The part that made me the most uncomfortable was when Sarah got stuck in the cave and began to get claustrophobic (since I have claustrophobia in me).

The part that gives me the chills every time I see this movie is when...



SPOILERS

Sarah (I think it's Sarah) is filming with the camera on night vision, and all the girls are screaming for help, and Beth screams out, "Hello!" And a creature appears right behind her. That part and when Sarah is filming Holly being torn apart by the crawlers.


Needless to say, I feel everyone should see this movie. One of the best of 2006. It's scary, suspenseful, thrilling, and I think the characters were well thought out, and the actresses were great.

SPOILERS #2

And also, the awesome death scene at the beginning where the poles go through Sarah's husband and daughter's head.


GO SEE THIS FILM!

Sean

The Descent kicked ass on IMDB's poll "best horror film of 2006."