The Descent

Name: The Descent
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Horror
Released: August 4, 2006
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Alex Reid, MyAnna Buring, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Nora-Jane Noone, Saskia Mulder

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 684 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 684 Ratings

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The Descent

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: August 4, 2006 | R

Starring: Alex Reid, MyAnna Buring, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Nora-Jane Noone, Saskia Mulder, Shauna MacDonald

Summary: One year after a tragic accident, six girlfriends meet in a remote part of the Appalachians for their annual extreme outdoor adventure, in this case the exploration of a cave hidden deep in the woods. Far below the surface of the earth, disaster strikes, and there's no way out. But there is something else lurking under the earth. (Lionsgate)

Director: Neil Marshall

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 99 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Sean Axmaker

It's the most intense, unpredictable and thrilling cinematic experience I've had the pleasure to squirm through in ages. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Neil Marshall's horrifically terrific The Descent cannily recasts 1972's "Deliverance" as a female-bonding thriller with some "Hills Have Eyes"-style mutant terror tossed in for truly harrowing effect. Read full review

Chris Kaltenbach

The most exhilaratingly horrifying movie to come out in years. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Marshall takes a modest budget and a concept that isn't all that original and produces a frightening, intelligent and sexy thriller. Read full review

Derek Elley

The chills and spills keep comin' to agreeable effect in Brit-made scarefest The Descent. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

What follows is a sensationally entertaining escalation of frights, the kind that make you wiggle and squirm as you alternately laugh at your own gullibility and marvel at the filmmaker's cunning and craft. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

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. Read full review

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User Reviews

MovieGoer14

Jul 22, 2013

The Descent is extremely intense and unpredictable with a dark and original story. It is brutal and terrifying, with chilling action sequences, plus that you will remember the movie for sometime, it is a decent thriller that can be one of the scariest and best horror movies ever made. (TheThe Descent is extremely intense and unpredictable with a dark and original story. It is brutal and terrifying, with chilling action sequences, plus that you will remember the movie for sometime, it is a decent thriller that can be one of the scariest and best horror movies ever made. (The movie is not for anyone who have claustrophobia)… Expand

13 of 16 users found this helpful133

ChristianC.

Dec 14, 2005

Easily the best horror movie of 2005 and the best British movie since Shaun Of The Dead. Scarier and darker than anything produced by the US in over a decade. Hollywood take note - this is how horror should be.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MarkS.

Aug 1, 2006

Easily the best horror film of 2005. Potentially the best horror film of the last 10 years. Anyone who compares it to The Cave needs to be sectioned. This is superior fare.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TobiasO.

Mar 3, 2006

Well done British thriller. I've read that Lions Gate will be changing the ending for the US release. What else is new? American studios don't have the courage to make films like this without some gimmicky"let's treat everyone like their 8 years old" jump-scare ending. But Well done British thriller. I've read that Lions Gate will be changing the ending for the US release. What else is new? American studios don't have the courage to make films like this without some gimmicky"let's treat everyone like their 8 years old" jump-scare ending. But isn't it nice to know the original British ending will be "an extra" on the US dvd release. Marketing at its finest!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

gagaforever

May 30, 2012

To be honest, maybe one of the best horror films i have ever seen. It was very unpredictable and gory. I do admit I had to cover my eyes from one death scene, but other than that I was very impressed with the filming and the sets. A definite must see!

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

cabrita

Aug 9, 2012

The films technical qualities were unbelievable but seeing this film on dvd the technical qualities of the film did not add to any suspense. this may because i did not experience this film in theatres or there is no suspense present.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

DustParticles

Aug 27, 2006

this is one of the most boring movies i've ever seen it irritates me that it has gained so much praise the first 20 minutes are good as soon as the monsters are shown, it's pretty awful.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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22	#22 Most Discussed Movie of 2006
42	#42 Most Shared Movie of 2006