If there is one lesson I wish to convey today, it is that money does not mean crap when it comes to making a quality film. Hollywood may be able to produce millions of dollars to make The Grudge in all its PG-13 glory, but it still isn’t scary. Keeping this in mind, I wish to discuss last weekend’s release The Descent. Discovered on the film festival circuit with a limited budget, this film proves that real terror concoctions come from minds and not money.

The Descent is the story of six female friends that get together for a spelunking trip in the Appalachian Mountains. The objective is to go in on one side, crawl through the many tunnels, and come out on the other side. However, after a tunnel collapses, the gang is forced to trek forward through the unknown darkness in search of an exit. Oh…did I happen to mention the mysterious cave-dwelling creatures?

This is not a concept pulled fresh from the water. We have seen the bloody tale of wit and survival on numerous occasions. However, thanks to a clever screenplay and skillful direction, Descent is much more than a “jump out and scare ya” splatter fest. It is a horror movie, an action film, and a story about female bonding. In fact, this film so cleverly eliminates the expected cliche of masculine survival and camaraderie, and gives women a chance to shine as driven protagonists willing to do what it takes to come out alive.

I had heard glowing reviews for The Descent, but I did not expect to love it this much. As an avid horror fan, this hits all the notes of dread from fear of heights, to claustrophobia, to getting eaten alive. It has been a long time since a thriller has grabbed me by the throat and taken me along for a wild ride. The Descent is a horror masterpiece and will definitely be making my cut for Best of 2006. Highly recommended!
Grade: A