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The Descent

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
219K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,488
254
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Descent (2005)
Home Video Trailer from Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:04
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Horror
  • Thriller
A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
219K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,488
254
  • Director
    • Neil Marshall
  • Writer
    • Neil Marshall
  • Stars
    • Shauna Macdonald
    • Natalie Mendoza
    • Alex Reid
Top credits
  • Director
    • Neil Marshall
  • Writer
    • Neil Marshall
  • Stars
    • Shauna Macdonald
    • Natalie Mendoza
    • Alex Reid
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.3KUser reviews
    • 367Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 22 nominations

    Videos1

    The Descent
    Trailer 2:04
    The Descent

    Photos203

    Neil Marshall and Sam McCurdy in The Descent (2005)
    Shauna Macdonald in The Descent (2005)
    Shauna Macdonald in The Descent (2005)
    Natalie Mendoza and Saskia Mulder in The Descent (2005)
    Shauna Macdonald in The Descent (2005)
    Saskia Mulder and MyAnna Buring in The Descent (2005)
    Shauna Macdonald at an event for The Descent (2005)
    Shauna Macdonald, Saskia Mulder, Alex Reid, Nora-Jane Noone, and MyAnna Buring at an event for The Descent (2005)
    Neil Marshall at an event for The Descent (2005)
    Shauna Macdonald, Neil Marshall, and Nora-Jane Noone at an event for The Descent (2005)
    Nora-Jane Noone at an event for The Descent (2005)
    Nora-Jane Noone at an event for The Descent (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shauna Macdonald
    Shauna Macdonald
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Natalie Mendoza
    Natalie Mendoza
    • Junoas Juno
    Alex Reid
    Alex Reid
    • Bethas Beth
    Saskia Mulder
    Saskia Mulder
    • Rebeccaas Rebecca
    MyAnna Buring
    MyAnna Buring
    • Samas Sam
    Nora-Jane Noone
    Nora-Jane Noone
    • Hollyas Holly
    Oliver Milburn
    Oliver Milburn
    • Paulas Paul
    Molly Kayll
    • Jessicaas Jessica
    Craig Conway
    Craig Conway
    • Crawler - Scaras Crawler - Scar
    Leslie Simpson
    • Crawleras Crawler
    Mark Cronfield
    Mark Cronfield
    • Crawleras Crawler
    Stephen Lamb
    • Crawleras Crawler
    • (as Steve Lamb)
    Catherine Dyson
    • Crawleras Crawler
    Julie Ellis
    • Crawleras Crawler
    Sophie Trott
    • Crawleras Crawler
    Tristan Matthiae
    Tristan Matthiae
    • Crawleras Crawler
    Stuart Luis
    • Crawleras Crawler
    Justin Hackney
    • Crawleras Crawler
    • Director
      • Neil Marshall
    • Writer
      • Neil Marshall
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The "crawlers" were designed to resemble Nosferatu from the film Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922). They also had huge white eyes to begin with, but this idea was done away with because they looked too silly. It took three and a half hours in makeup to transform an actor into a "crawler." They had to shave off their body hair as well.
    • Goofs
      (at around 25 mins) When Juno lights the flare to reveal the interior of the cave, a crew man is visible below them.
    • Quotes

      Beth: I'm an English teacher, not fucking Tomb Raider.

    • Crazy credits
      The creature's snarling sound can be heard at the end of the credits.
    • Alternate versions
      SPOILER: The endings of the US and UK versions differ. In the end, Sarah wakes up at the bottom of the cave, crawls out, and makes her way back to the car. When she is driving away, she pulls over and vomits, and when she leans back into the car, she is startled by the ghost of Juno sitting in the passenger seat. The US version cuts to the credits here. In the UK version, this apparition causes Sarah to wake up for real at the bottom of the cave, revealing her escape to be just a dream. She then has a vision of her daughter's birthday cake, which we see is just her torch. The camera backs out, the voices of the creatures can be heard again and are increasing in strength as they are closing in on her, and the movie ends. This ending was considered "too dark" for US audiences.
    • Connections
      Featured in British Film Forever: Magic, Murder and Monsters: The Story of British Horror and Fantasy (2007)

    User reviews1.3K

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    If you go in there...
    After watching "The Descent", my bud Robert and I decided that spelunking would now come off both our "To Do" lists—for good. Writer and Director Neil Marshall's "The Descent" crafts and sustains an unrelenting tension throughout, once you get past the suspended disbelief. As I watched the women one by one crawl through the tiny water filled crevice to enter the caverns somewhere in the Appalachian Mountains, I thought, "How are they going to get back? They've got to be nuts!" Well, you just have to go with it. Well, kind of. Fortunately, director Marshall effectively pretexts the story. The prior thrill-seeking jaunt for the group was a white water rafting trip. Following that trip, Sarah (Shauna MacDonald) suffers a life altering tragedy. A year later, Sarah and her close friend Beth (Alex Reid) join up with the gang at a cabin in the Appalachians. The 6 women are gearing up for a cave exploration trip headed by Juno (Natalie Mendoza). Apparently, Juno regrets not being there for Sarah following her personal tragedy and recovery. Juno sees this trip as an opportunity to empower Sarah. Those along for the ride include Becca (Saskia Mulder), Sam (MyAnna Buring), and Holly (Nora-Jane No one).

    The trip starts out curious enough when Juno (Mendoza) discards her map of the caves. The women proceed, and are undeterred by the telltale signs of mysterious animal carcasses. Not surprisingly, the cave exploration goes horribly wrong. They are lost without a clue how to get out, and they are being hunted by terrifying fleshing eating creatures. So the women are literally in the fight for their lives. Marshall masterfully orchestrates the mood and tension. My bud Robert keenly pointed out that what really works in "The Descent" is that it never evolves into a trite action movie. No one screams, "Take that you, Mother F-----!" Granted Marshall may have intended his story as an empowerment allegory. The women are authentically terrified, and fight with all their courage and heart amidst their overwhelming fear. Somehow while they are thrashing and being thrashed by the fierce creatures, it is all strangely believable—strangely. Rather it gets you thinking: "Would I do the same?" Sarah (Macdonald) and Juno (Mendoza) in particular emerge as forces to be reckoned with. Mendoza's Juno warrior spirit is consistent and engaging—she is the brash leader. MacDonald is powerful and believable in Sarah's emergence as a heroic presence. All the performances are strong throughout.

    Marshall maintains a claustrophobic feel and keeps us on edge. The unveiled details involving the cave creatures regarding their possible evolution is a nice touch. "The Descent" has to be one of the most gory horror movies with realistic violence—and I am not a big horror fan. However, I am a big hero fan. "The Descent" has great women heroes. Shauna Macdonald and Natalie Mendoza are awesome. "The Descent" is a wild tension filled ride. At the very end one wonders, "What next?"
    helpful•159
    62
    • jon.h.ochiai
    • Aug 18, 2006

    FAQ14

    • What is 'The Descent' about?
    • Is "The Descent" based on a book?
    • What do the creatures look like?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 4, 2006 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site (Germany)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El descenso
    • Filming locations
      • Perth and Kinross, Scotland, UK
    • Production companies
      • Celador Films
      • Northmen Productions
      • Pathe UK
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £3,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,024,456
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,911,330
      • Aug 6, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $57,130,027
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital EX
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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