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It’s rare that a film sticks to true horror anymore. For some reason, writers and directors feel the need to lighten the mood with cheap jokes or simply terrible puns. The Descent is uncompromisingly brutal in its depiction of gore. Everything, from the costumes, setting, lighting, to a few small plot twists, works to create an intense film experience.

At least, that holds true for the second hour. The film moves agonizingly slowly and without purpose. Characters are set up early, and aside from two standouts, most have few differing characteristics. There’s no connection to the viewer. Shauna Macdonald, her character still recovering from a tragic accident that took her husband and daughter, leads the all-female cast.

This is a recurring theme to establish her mental state as things start going completely wrong during a cave exploration with her friends. Standard sequences of peril as the climbers fall, get stuck, deal with collapsing columns, and of course, get lost, start a rather dull cycle of film. Nothing is gained from these scenes, the thrills saved for later. It takes close to an hour before the audience receives their first glimpse of the threat.

Covered in albino skin, the human-like figures that begin assaulting the small group of explorers are relentless in their quest for a quick meal. As expected, one after another is picked off and slaughtered, though not without a fight. The audience never has the feeling the girls are helpless, especially as they start snapping necks and drilling the creatures with axes.

Director Neil Marshall, the same person who directed the under-appreciated Dog Soldiers in 2002, does an outstanding job here. The cave corridors are completely covered in darkness and this aspect is used to great effect. It creates a sense of being there also due in part to the amazing level of intensity.

Performances are fantastic, utterly believable all the way through to the trick ending. Marshall doesn’t hide the creatures either. They’re constantly in full view, lit by various sources as they continue their feeding rampage. Even with a small budget, the costumes show no compromise.

It’s possible to skip entire early chapters of The Descent and lose nothing in the process. Thankfully, the focus of keeping the horror constant and brutal comes through to make the save. It’s one of the best horror films in years based on the second hour alone. Add in the first and it shrivels a bit.

Film grain is the only complaint with the video transfer. That’s so minor, it disappears when the movie moves to the underground caverns. Clarity is remarkable, flawlessly capturing the perfectly set lighting essential to the film. Black levels stay consistent and deep to keep most of the frame concealed as intended. Even the bright reds stay together without revealing compression artifacts. The Descent needed a quality transfer like this to work on video.

Dialogue is mixed low against the heavy action. At times, spoken words are indiscernible from the noise of the action. It’s never particularly important, but there’s little reason you should be forced to fiddle with the volume depending on the scene. Everything else sounds fantastic, from the bass to the eerie use of the sound field. The scares don’t have the impact they should unless you can physically hear the attack coming from all angles.

Two commentaries lead off the extras. Both feature the director in the lead. In one, he sits down with the cast as they discuss their experience and training for their roles. The next the crew explains the shoot and the script. Each provides a unique viewpoint on the film.

A complete documentary is the must view piece here. The Descent: Beneath the Scenes isn’t just a clever title. This is a fully encompassing piece on the shoot, the plot, script, and special effects. It’s crammed into a little over 41 minutes.

There’s a short interview with the director that lasts seven minutes as he discusses the multiple endings he could have used (and did as the UK cut is different). Nine deleted scenes are mostly trims from completed scenes.

A surprising set of outtakes provides some great laughs. Rarely do you see bloopers from a serious movie, especially one as dark and grim as this. Storyboards, stills, and trailers finish the DVD.

If The Descent’s keen eye for horror worked on you, Dog Soldiers is a must see. While nowhere near the budget, it’s similar in its depiction of gore and practical special effects. Descent is the better film, though that is in no way a shot at Dog Soldiers.

from Blogcritics magazine