The Descent

Play trailer

The Descent

R

Released Aug 4, 2006

1h 39m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

187 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A year after a severe emotional trauma, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) goes to North Carolina to spend some time exploring caves with her friends; after descending underground, the women find strange cave paintings and evidence of an earlier expedition, then learn they are not alone: Underground predators inhabit the crevasses, and they have a taste for human flesh.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Deft direction and strong performances from its all-female cast guide The Descent, a riveting, claustrophobic horror film.

Read Critics Reviews

Alyx Vesey

Bitch Media

While I think we should question the authority of the ubiquitous male writer-director to shape horror productions, I think Marshall does a good job representing his female characters.

Jan 7, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Lilleyman

TIME Magazine

Marshall could very well be the Caravaggio of the B-movie.

Oct 15, 2008

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

This intermittently effective UK horror thriller carefully establishes the psychological relationships among the women, then squanders this calibrated and generally plausible setup with a series of crude, implausible, and scattershot horror effects.

Sep 24, 2007

Full Review

Akos Peterbencze

The Screen

In Neil Marshall’s 2005 horror masterpiece, darkness emerges as a living organism. It shifts and lurks and claws its way into our nerves, under our skin, and eventually, inside our heads.

Oct 31, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a film stripped to bloody basics, a ferocious and taut exercise in action horror that recalls early James Cameron, with more gore and less sentimentality.

Aug 19, 2023

Full Review

Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

The Descent falls into a long line of horrors preying on the visceral fears of audiences, cleverly bringing these terrors to the surface in a film that is at times hard to watch and experience.

Jul 29, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Carlos M

De las mejores peliculas de cuevas de terror que he visto no le pongo 5 estrellas porque no me gusto que traicionaran a la guia sexy de rojo:/ sinceramente de terror no es tanto pero del 1 al 10 le pondria un 7 porque considero que apesar de que el suspenso es constante los demonios o canibales su apariencia no da tanto miedo comparando con otros asemejantes pero sin duda vale la pena verla aunque sino te gustan las peliculas de cuevas y que la escenografía es casi igual siempre mejor no la veas

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/17/25

Full Review

ROBERT Z.

Legit scary…well acted

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/15/25

Full Review

David W

One of those rare movies that builds characters just as well as it builds tension. The feeling of claustrophobia and building dread is palpable and the ending certainty doesn't sell itself out either. Superb stuff.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

Full Review

Ben T

The Descent is a thrilling surprise from start to finish. The story builds with an engaging pace, drawing you into the characters’ development and early conflicts that carry both emotional weight and suspense. Hints of darker horror are sprinkled throughout, keeping you uneasy and anticipating what’s to come. By the final act, the film completely shifts gears, plunging viewers into an intense, claustrophobic nightmare that leaves jaws dropped and hands gripping the seat. It’s a relentless ride, one that proves The Descent is not just another horror film, but a truly unforgettable experience.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

Full Review

Midnight C.

One the best horror movies Ive seen. Keeps your attention the entire time. Watch it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

Full Review

Jason H

One of the best horror films of the 21st century. Make sure you watch the UK version.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Neil Marshall

Director

Shauna Macdonald

Sarah

Natalie Mendoza

Juno

Alex Reid

Beth

Saskia Mulder

Rebecca

Nora Jane Noone

Holly

The Descent: Official Clip - Sudden Death

2:02

The Descent: Official Clip - Words of Warning

2:18

The Descent: Official Clip - The Creature Looks Human

2:46

The Descent: Official Clip - Blood Bath

2:28

The Descent: Official Clip - Holly's Death

2:10

The Descent: Official Clip - Fighting Back

2:13

The Descent: Official Clip - A Rock and a Hard Place

2:15

The Descent: Official Clip - If We Stay Here, We'll Die

2:01

The Descent: Official Clip - Juno's Descent

2:13

The Descent: Official Clip - The Killing Floor

2:08

View more videos

Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning

60%

54%

Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning

Watchlist

Silent Hill

34%

63%

Silent Hill

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Silent Hill

Dog Soldiers

81%

79%

Dog Soldiers

Watchlist

Turistas

19%

28%

Turistas

Watchlist

The Gravedancers

100%

45%

The Gravedancers

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

16 Awesome Horror Sidekicks: A Tribute to Our Favorite Not-So-Final Girls

The 25 Scariest Movie Scenes of All Time

View more photos

Synopsis

A year after a severe emotional trauma, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) goes to North Carolina to spend some time exploring caves with her friends; after descending underground, the women find strange cave paintings and evidence of an earlier expedition, then learn they are not alone: Underground predators inhabit the crevasses, and they have a taste for human flesh.

Director: Neil Marshall
Producer: Christian Colson
Screenwriter: Neil Marshall
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Celador Productions, Lionsgate Television
Rating: R (Strong Violence and Gore|Language)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.0M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now