The Descent

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The Descent

R

Released Aug 4, 2006

1h 39m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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

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Noel H

I loved the cast, I loved the setting. They let you get to know the characters before jumping in, always helps. It’d be 5 stars but I thought the antagonists were a bit lame.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

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Mark J

Well constructed small budget horror. Gets the atmosphere so right and an awesome monster. The proper ending is perfect as well

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

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William G

This is the only movie that made me so uncomfortable (with the claustrophobic scenes near the beginning) that I seriously wanted to leave the theater.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Tasha L

The cave dwellers aren’t very realistic which I thought would take an away from the fear factor of the movie, but, it was don’t well enough that it wasn’t the case. Not to mention the ending is an incredible add.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

C G

YOU MUST WATCH THIS WITH THE OG ENDING!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

Carlos T

Filme: Abismo do Medo Elenco: @nataliemendozaofficial @the_scottish_shauna_macdonaldn@myannaburing @alexreidofficial @saskia.mulder @njnoone Modelo: #suspense #terror #ficção Duração: 1h 39m Ano: 2005 Minha opinião: Gostei muito deste filme e tem ainda sua continuação 2009 que também gostei e é uma continuação direta. Um filme bem elaborado, que traz algo diferente dos filmes de terror que estamos acostumados. Apesar dos monstros lembrarem uma forma bizarra de vampiros sem asas. Temos aqui um grupo de amigas que resolvem desbravar umas cavernas que depois descobre que são cavernas que nunca foram mapeadas e por que será? Temos Sarah (Macdonalds) que esta recuperando da perda do marido e da filha. Temos ainda Juno (Mendoza), Sam (Buring), Beth (Reid), Rebecca (Mulder) e Holly (Noome). Um filme que mistura além das feras absais todo um drama e segredo entre as amigas, como traição e mentiras. E até o momento que uma delas no desespero acaba matando por engano a própria amiga. No meio de tudo isso é que acontencem cenas muito bem elaboradas, apesar da pouca luz mas muito bem produzida. E a forma onde cada uma vai perdendo a vida. Porque no momento em que ficam presas dentro da carvena e desespero vai aumentando e as discuções e vão sendo reveladas os segredos. Até que um momento surgem criaturas que se guiam pelo som pois são cegas por viver a tantos séculos na escuridão da caverna. E as meninas descobrem cemitério de esqueleto de animais e também de seres humanos. E as meninas lutam pela sobrevivência. Ótimas cenas de tenção em suspense. Até que elas também descidem enfretar as criaturas. Até sobrar Jun e Sarah, e no ultimo ato Srah consegue fugir, mas será que ela ajudou Juno? Roteiro e enredo muito bom. Parabéns. Vale apena assistir? Sim, veja a classificação de idade. Nota: 8,65

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/13/24

Full Review

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Neil Marshall

Director

Shauna Macdonald

Sarah

Natalie Mendoza

Juno

Alex Reid

Beth

Saskia Mulder

Rebecca

Nora Jane Noone

Holly

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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
Rating: R (Strong Violence and Gore|Language)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
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)

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