Sanctum (2011)

An underwater cave diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to the unexplored and least accessible cave system in the world.

Director:

Alister Grierson

Writers:

John Garvin, Andrew Wight

Stars:

Rhys Wakefield, Allison Cratchley, Christopher James Baker

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Roxburgh	...	Frank
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Carl
Rhys Wakefield	...	Josh
Alice Parkinson	...	Victoria
Dan Wyllie	...	Crazy George (as Daniel Wyllie)
Christopher James Baker	...	J.D. (as Christopher Baker)
Nicole Downs	...	Liz
Allison Cratchley	...	Judes
Cramer Cain	...	Luko
Andrew Hansen	...	Dex
John Garvin	...	Jim Sergeant
Sean Dennehy	...	Chopper Pilot
Nea Diap	...	Kastom Shaman

Storyline

The 3-D action-thriller Sanctum follows a team of underwater cave divers on a treacherous expedition to the largest, most beautiful and least accessible cave system on Earth. When a tropical storm forces them deep into the caverns, they must fight raging water, deadly terrain and creeping panic as they search for an unknown escape route to the sea. Master diver Frank McGuire has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team-including 17-year-old son Josh and financier Carl Hurley are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?

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Plot Keywords:

rebreather | cave | expedition | underwater | panic | 

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Taglines:

The only way out is down

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

James Cameron's Sanctum

Filming Locations:

Cave Of The Swallows, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£859,064 (UK) (4 February 2011)

Gross:

$23,070,045 (USA) (25 February 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Wayfare Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Alister Grierson and cinematographer Jules O'Loughlin had no experience with 3D prior to working on this film. Thus, they had learn how to light the scenes, use the stereoscopic space and manipulate the cameras from scratch.

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Goofs

The illumination in many of the cave scenes is clearly being emitted by studio lighting, and not the helmet lamps and glow sticks carried by the characters. This is most apparent in the final scene, with the glow-stick carried by Josh.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dex: Josh? Wow, your old man let you come up for air?
Josh: Oh you're kidding, Dex.
Dex: Oh you're gonna be in the shit.
[big hug]

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Connections

Featured in Great Movie Mistakes III: Not in 3D (2011)

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Soundtracks

Ride of the Valkyries
(uncredited)
Written by Richard Wagner
Performed by Ioan Gruffudd

User Reviews

don't bother

first - Cameron is one of 9 producers. i can only imagine cameron was interested in working under water. besides that, there is nothing jim cameron in this movie in my opinion.

this movie is in 3d which is fun. scenery is great, caves, water etc.

however - there is no plot what so ever. at no point did i feel compassion nor connection to any of the characters.. those who died and those who survived. at no point did i identified myself with the plot, hoping these guys will make it out alive.

yeah - really poor plot and boring dialogs.

acting was good for whatever material was thrown on these poor actors..

seriously - don't bother with this film.

moving along.