Review of Descent (2007) by Javor B — 11 Jun 2011

I love this movie. I've watched it at least 5 times, and seen all the different endings (2 US endings and 1 UK ending). All the endings pretty much suck, but it gives you something to talk about. It's really two movies in one. The first half of the movie is completely psychological and extremely claustrophobic. I remember sitting in the theater thinking to myself, "This is the most claustrophobic film I've ever seen.".

I love that. I love that it just gets tighter and smaller and harder to breathe. It really fucks with you mentally.

And that's all before you see a single monster.

Now I just watched the unrated version of the movie, and for the first time ever, I noticed right before you see a monster, you hear either a child's laugh, or a giggle, or a little girl saying "mommy." I had never noticed that before. Which adds to the question of "are the monsters real" or are they all inside the main character's head (because this all takes place after she lost her daughter in a car accident.).

The ending sucks, but the journey to the end makes it worth viewing.