 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Descent
- Review Date: December 21, 2006
- R
- Genre: Horror
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
A scary gorefest underground. Not for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the violence in the movie is visceral and bloody. A car accident puts spikes through a character's head (visible from the rear) and kills a child (off-screen). Once inside the very small-spaced cave, the women argue and show fear (in alarming scenes conveying subjective states). The monsters are gruesome, both pasty and slimy, as well as vicious. Some characters lie to each other, but the reasons are more complicated than in most horror films.
What's the story?
In the beginning of THE DESCENT, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) is an athletic, good-natured wife, mom, and best friend to whitewater rafting buddies Juno (Natalie Mendoza) and Beth (Alex Reid). Within minutes, however, that life is over, as a car accident leaves Sarah alone and traumatized. A year later, Sarah's girlfriends convince her to join them cave-exploring in the Appalachian Mountains, to help her recover from her loss. The spelunking group includes spunky-punky Holly (Nora-Jane Noone) and goodhearted sisters Rebecca (Saskia Mulder) and Sam (MyAnna Buring). When a tunnel cave-in blocks their way out and Sarah seems to be haunted by her daughter's voice, the group begins to worry; things get worse when they're confronted by monsters deep in the darkness. Soon, the adventurers are fighting for their lives against "crawlers," blind, gnarly creatures with fearsome teeth and very bendable backbones.
Is it any good?
Equal parts yucky, scary, and delirious, The Descent is also clever about its limits, and chilling in its effects. It sets up a specific emotional situation for its protagonist, then turns it inside out, with the help of especially daunting monsters. Suddenly, Sarah can no longer be focused only on her own despair, but must face the worst external threats imaginable.
While the plot is straightforward and eventually predictable -- women in a terrible place get scared, get assaulted in terrible ways, and get tough -- the film is also about trust and betrayal, as well as surprising sources of strength. Exaggerating the usual horror movie gambit, the movie invites you to reconsider genre-based expectations. Sarah finds in herself an unexpected ferocity and an almost frightening determination to endure. What's smart about the movie is that it makes her survival costly. While she's relieved to be alive, she's also horrified by her own change.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the sense of loss embodied by Sarah, whose family dies in a car crash before the main action. How are the women's friendships tested by their increasing horrific circumstances? They could also talk about the popularity of horror movies: Why do we love to be scared? Does this one break any new ground in the genre?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
A must see for horror fans.
It starts very slow, although there is a violent image at the beginning. When they start exploring the cave, things get crazy. This movie is NOT for the squeamish. It was quite grisly and will most likely make you want to stay away from caves.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Pretty scary and violent in my opinion.
Good storyline and violence and characters werent bad
so if u got kids of 14-15 you should buy this for them for bday present they love it!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Scared The Crap out of me!!
I love this movie. It scared me bigtime. I was a little dissapionted in the end of who lived and who died, but what can you do? I f your scared of blood/gore or scared easily, then this isn't the movie for you. Or if you go climbing in caves. But if love getting scared then it's for you. Some people might not think it was scary others will. And i'm one of the others.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Awesome horror flick
Great film but definitely not for kids under 18. Different but in a good way as it's original.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
OLD TEENS WILL ENJOY(not that scary!)
Very bloody but FOR ME its not scary, just a little disturbing with sound ALL THE WAY UP.
Its gory and all (language), but its quite dark down there (which didnt make it ALL that bad, just more intense).
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Well done movie
This is a very well executed horror film. It doesn't go over the top with sex and gore like most horror films these days. It is an extremely clostraphobic movie which makes it all the more scarier. There is not much explanation for the the creatures hunting them which to me makes it a better film. It is deff. a creeepy and jumpy movie and will be enjoyed by many horror fans
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Despite the gore, this film is a great choice for mature horror fans.
The Descent is one of the most scariest horror films you will ever see, and it's also one of the most goriest. The plot is suspenseful, and it brings us a new style to the horror genre. Viewers will feel as if they are actually inside of the cave, as they will also feel their heart rate moving faster. Despite the blood and gore, this film is definitely a good choice for horror fans.
Violence: The violence in this movie is bloodily brutal. From a bloody car accident, to crushed heads, stabbing, and pools of blood. Most of the strong gore comes from the creatures injuries, and some from humans. But the creature violence is a lot more brutal.
Language: Mild for a horror film. Words include a few f-words, and some s--t's.
Sex: In one scene of peril a woman makes a joke about giving a lemon an orgasm. This scene is very intense though, which will bring the sexual content level down. This is the strongest it gets.
Drinking/Drugs: Before going into the cave woman smoke cigarettes, and drink a few beers.
Messages and Role Models: There are messages about survival and bravery. These woman are brave and strong, but at some points they are also very selfish. These woman also curse.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
The descent is a fantastic and brutal thriller
Sex/Nudity: A brief sexual joke about an orgasm.
Violence/Scariness: Plenty of graphic and grotesque imagery. Most of the violence consists of the crawlers that eat the people's intestines and throw them up. In one scene, a girl hits her leg on something and her bone is seen popping out. Plenty of gruesome violence throughout.
Profanity: Around 44 f words, scatological and anatomical terms, 1 sexual reference, some religious exclamations, name-calling (selfish cow), and mild obscenities.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Director: | Neil Marshall |
| Cast: | Alex Reid, Natalie Mendoza, Shauna Macdonald |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 99 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 4, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | December 26, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong violence/gore and language |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
