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:

Richard Roxburgh, Rhys Wakefield, Christopher Baker

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Richard Roxburgh	...	Frank McGuire
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Carl Hurley
Rhys Wakefield	...	Josh McGuire
Alice Parkinson	...	Victoria Elaine
Dan Wyllie	...	Crazy George
Christopher Baker	...	J.D.
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:

cave | expedition | underwater | panic | underwater cave | 

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Taglines:

The only way out is down

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Genres:

Action | 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 [fr]

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

In an unfortunate coincidence, Agnes Milowka, one of the film's diving doubles, drowned after running out of air shortly after the film was released.

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Goofs

When Victoria lands, gets off the seaplane and walks to the helicopter she is wearing blue jeans and a white pull-over top that has 2-3 buttons at the top like a regular shirt, it has button flaps on the arms for rolling up the sleeves and she has a white bra on underneath. They all get into the helicopter and it appears to take off immediately, but the very next shot of her shows her top has changed to a full button-down shirt, left unbuttoned with a white halter top underneath and a white bra. She could not have changed all those tops with the helicopters seatbelt/shoulder harness on.

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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

"RABAUL TAUN"
Written by Junior Kokoratts, Alfred Darby, Tibon Lakua, Wilson Takovong
Performed by Junior Kokoratts
Published by PNG Legend
Licensed courtesy of CHM Supersound

User Reviews

Not flawless, but still "breathtaking"

This movie, although not James Cameron's best, is visually exciting and suspenseful. A gripping expedition becomes a race against time and human nature, when a group of explorers navigating an immense cave in Papua New Guinea during a cyclone find themselves trapped in what threatens to become a watery tomb.

The sometimes melodramatic acting and clichéd dialogue tries too hard to construct the nature of each character before the action scenes start to set in, the uncompromising and experienced leader, the rash and cocky business man, the young kid with father issues. There were plenty of chances to let these traits become apparent naturally throughout the script.

The acting gets more bearable as the number of characters starts to dwindle a little. What saves this movie is the sense of scale in the scenery, the beauty of the natural caves, and the realism with which situations become volatile and unmanageable.

Overall, if you want to see a decent, action driven film about of one of the world's last remaining unexplored landforms, then Sanctum will (probably) not disappoint. It could have done without the 3D, which seemed unnecessary overkill. Not as good as The Abyss, but a similarly excellent visual experience to Avatar, unfortunately it comes with a similar level of acting and, with momentary exceptions, emotional depth.