Review of The Descent (2005) by Chads. — 14 Aug 2006
Like Lars Von Trier's "Dancer in the Dark" and Thomas Vinerberg's "Dear Wendy", a European location substitutes for an American one. In this case, Scotland plays the part of the Appalachian Mountains.
Those films were criticisms of America, and early in "The Descent", the woman who controls the car radio, passes on banjo music and makes a dismissive remark about Christianity. Like the Dogma filmmakers, "The Descent" uses a few laughably slight signifiers to normalize its surroundings.
If you consider this film was made in the UK and everybody is in a bloody uproar about Tony Blair's involvment with President George W. Bush, isn't it interesting that it's the American character who gets everybody killed.
Like the remake of "The Hills Have Eyes", this seemingly escapist romp in the woods has a biting political subtext.
This review of The Descent (2005) was written by Chads. on 14 Aug 2006.
The Descent has generally received positive reviews.
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