THE DESCENT, a claustrophobic and intense British horror film from Neil Marshall (DOG SOLDIERS), follows six courageous young women who venture down a deep, deep cavern in the Appalachian Mountain range. They are expert rafters and rock climbers--particularly the leader, Juno (Natalie Mendoza), and Sarah (Shauna Macdonald), who is still getting over the death of her husband and daughter the year before. Any healing and bonding is scuttled fast, however, once a cave-in cuts off their return route, forcing them deeper down into the darkness, their flashlight batteries dwindling with every wasted minute. The horror builds, the passageways get tighter and tighter, and then Sarah thinks she have seen something moving in the distance, something that looks almost human....
To give away any more would be a crime, but let's just say horror film lovers should find plenty to love here: there's gallons of gore, jump-in-your-seat shocks, and sly references to other films. The women characters are strongly etched, and excellent editing makes it possible to always know what's happening to whom, even as the flashlights are going out, the darkness is moving in, and the unholy screams are echoing off the cavern walls.
Theatrically released August 4, 2006
Blu-ray Disc Features:
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Closed Captioned - English
Dolby Digital Surround Sound 5.1 - English
PCM 6.1 - English
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Outtakes
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Behind the Scenes: Making of
Interviews: Neil Marshall - Director
Audio Commentary: Neil Marshall - Director, Crew (alternate picture-in-picture optional)
Comparisons: Storyboard-to-Film
Trailers:
1. Original Theatrical Trailer
2. Previews
Interactive Features:
Scene Selection
Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
Stills/Photos
Biographies: Cast, Crew
Stars
Shauna MacDonald: Actor, SAINT RALPH (2005)
Natalie Mendoza: Actress, SOUTH PACIFIC (2001), MOULIN ROUGE (2001)
Alex Reid: Actor, DESCENT (2006)
Saskia Mulder: Actor, DESCENT (2006)
Nora-Jane Noone: Actor, DESCENT (2006)
MyAnna Buring: Actor, DESCENT (2006)
Oliver Milburn: Actor\"Loaded"
Molly Kayll: Actor, DESCENT (2006)
Director
Neil Marshall: Director/Screenwriter: DOG SOLDIERS (2002)
Producer
Christian Colson: Actor, DESCENT (2006)
Screenwriter
Neil Marshall: Director/Screenwriter: DOG SOLDIERS (2002)
Composer
David Julyan: Actor, FOLLOWING (2000)
Editor
Jon Harris: editor
Director of Photography
Sam McCurdy: DP, DESCENT (2006)
Production Designer
Simon Bowles: Production Designer, THE DESCENT (2006)
Costume Designer
Nancy Thompson: Costume Designer, THE DESCENT (2006)
Review 1:
"Made with a connoisseur's love of muck, blood, inky darkness, and equal parts elegance and ewwww, THE DESCENT raises the level of the post-BLAIR WITCH, post-OPEN WATER horror game." -- Grade: A-
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.49 08/11/2006
Review 2:
"The babes are buff and the scares bountiful in THE DESCENT, a full-throttle horror freakout..."
Source: New York Times
p.E15 08/04/2006
Review 3:
3 stars out of 5 -- "Prepare to be scared senseless, and then, when you think you have it figured, your certainty will be shaken by scenes meant to scare you even more."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.108 08/24/2006
Review 4:
3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] deftly made, highly chilling movie that benefits from the uniqueness of having a basically all-female cast."
Source: Box Office
p.112 09/01/2006