Descent Into Darkness (2002)

Deep in the Mariana Sea Basin, several miners have died under mysterious circumstances. Officer Will Murdock of the Deep Submersible Division is brought down to investigate. Will anyone reach the surface alive?

Director:

Daniel Knauf (as Wilfred Schmidt)

Writers:

Phillip J. Roth (story) (as Phillip Roth), Daniel Knauf (screenplay) (as Wilfred Schmidt)

Stars:

Dean Cain, Scott Wiper, Biliana Petrinska

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Cain	...	Will Murdock
Scott Wiper	...	Niles
Biliana Petrinska	...	Bin
Maxim Genchev	...	Starkweather
Art Mendelson	...	Owen
Julian Vergov	...	Vlad
Ivaylo Dimchev	...	Weed (as Ivaylo Mimchev)
Valentin Ganev	...	Doctor Petrov
William Zabka	...	Marty
Plamen Manassiev	...	Evan (as Plamen Manasiev)
Vladimir Kolev	...	Rothko
Ivan Panev	...	Emil
Dobrin Dosev	...	Yanko (as Dobrin Dossev)
Hristo Shopov	...	Digger
Georgi Ivanov Kakalov	...	Lars (as Georgi Ivanov)

Storyline

Deep in the Mariana Sea Trench, a corporate underwater mining complex has been built - an industrial Atlantis. When an accident in a dry-dock chamber kills several miners an investigator is sent to find the cause and immediately finds out that it was not an accident. He becomes caught in the middle of a deadly conflict between the miners and the corporation, and fights to stay alive and uncover the truth.

---

Plot Keywords:

underwater scene | accident | mining | survival | shot in the chest | 

---

Taglines:

Hold your breath.

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality

User Reviews

This movie was better...

...when it was called "Outland." Both of which are, as another commenter said, based on "High Noon." Some of the shots are almost identical to the Connery movie, as are the basic scenario and subplot elements. Additionally, some of the plot details they changed, presumably to avoid lawsuits, created huge, unresolved plot holes. And of course Dean Cain can't hold a candle to Connery at his post-Bond peak.

As if those failings were not egregious enough, this movie also lacks the cranky charm of Frances Sternhagen.

Rend "Outland" and sink this flick in the Marianas Trench.

Details

Country:

USA Bulgaria

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Descent Into Darkness

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Unified Film Organization (UFO), Dark Descent Productions LLC, City Heat Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color