The Descent
The Descent

IN A NUTSHELL...

The Story: Six girlfriends get more than they bargained for when they decide that their annual adventure holiday will involve a spot of caving - and we don't mean chipped nails. Neil Marshall's follow-up to Dog Soldiers is a bloody and gory affair, with UK critics almost unanimous in calling it one of the best British horror movies in years. The actresses playing the "chicks with pics" are Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, MyAnna Buring, Saskia Mulder, and Nora-Jane Noone.
UK Box Office: Β£2.698 million (as at 6th September 2005)
Useless Fact: Neil Marshall only discovered that Shauna Macdonald was really claustrophobic on a pre-shoot training expedition in the Peak District.


VIDEO...

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videoΜύΜύ


THE REVIEWS...

Positive reviews

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Movies "Plays like Aliens meets Deliverance, with the action bloody, brutal and relentless" (4/5)

Empire "Brutal, bloody, terrifying, astonishing... And so tense it'll leave you aching" (5/5)

The Spinning Image "This is one of the strongest British horror flicks for some time, and unlike Dog Soldiers doesn't undermine the scares with ill-placed humour"

Film 247 "There are lots of jumpy moments in the film but they're not as clichΓ©d as Hollywood films"

The Times "The power of Marshall's film is how fear loosens both senses and loyalties. The chills are old-fashioned, the production values are terrific" (4/5)

High Angle "A terrifying, unrelenting journey through horror and out the other side"

Shadows On The Wall "Almost unbearably tense and claustrophobic, and Marshall cleverly sets us up for maximum joltage even if the film struggles to relate with us" (3.5/5)

Sky Movies "British horror doesn't come much better than this nerve-shredding, spine-snapping gorefest" (4/5)

Time Out "This fiercely entertaining British horror movie has blood, guts and brains" (4/5)

Guardian "Neil Marshall carries it off with a punky flair and keeps the yeecch factor cranked up high" (3/5)

Independent "It's very strong meat, but if you're in the mood for a sadomasochistic thrill-ride you couldn't do much better than this"

My Movies "Marshall certainly has an eye for horror and The Descent does nothing to harm his growing reputation"

Observer "I jumped, I gasped, I winced, I cringed and, for lengthy periods, I simply held my breath"


Mixed reviews

Mirror "There's not an original thought here with endless cut and pastes from better shockers such as Carrie and Aliens" (3/5)


WEB WATCH...

Official site The Descent
Official site


Neil Marshall interview

Guardian Fright Club
Resurgence of British horror article

Film Focus "A lot of bonds were formed"
Neil Marshall interview

Empire "It's going to be pretty intense stuff"
Neil Marshall interview

IO Film "I'm genuinely scared of the dark"
Shauna Macdonald interview


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