Spooky season has arrived, delivering the right time for a horror film marathon. Loads of scary motion pictures function deep, darkish woods, or desolate locales, however one among my favorites takes place deep inside the floor.
When a bunch of buddies decides to go spelunking in an area cave system, they’re ready for the inherent claustrophobia of tons of rock urgent down round them… however not for what’s been hiding in these caves.
The Descent is a 2006 horror flick you could watch totally free with a Prime Video subscription. This film has struck worry into the hearts of audiences for almost 20 years, delivering devilish monsters hiding inside darkish tunnels. It is a cult basic infused with hints of terror in each body.
I have been a fan of horror motion pictures for so long as I can keep in mind, beginning with Eighties classics like Pumpkinhead. Over time, I’ve discovered some horror motion pictures that I hold coming again to, even when I understand how they’ll finish. The Descent is completely one among them.
The Descent delivers a claustrophobic, dread-filled expertise — should you don’t love tight areas (I do not!), it is even worse. Each time I watch, the lethal catastrophe has me masking my eyes, and screaming on the TV as occasions spiral uncontrolled.
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The film begins on the conclusion of a whitewater rafting journey the place six ladies have been bonding and having a good time, however on the drive house, lead character Sarah loses her husband and their daughter in a automobile accident that shatters her world. That tragedy units the tone for the whole film, warning viewers that issues are solely going to worsen.
What begins as a enjoyable buddies’ journey shortly dissolves into insanity and terror.
A yr after the lethal automobile crash, the six buddies reunite for one more journey. Their plan is to spend a day spelunking in a North Carolina cave system within the Appalachian Mountains. Issues begin off tremendous, however then Sarah turns into caught in a very slender passage. She manages to squirm by means of, however a rock fall behind her leaves all the ladies trapped deep underground with no concept how one can get out.
One of many buddies, Juno, then admits that they don’t seem to be within the actual cave system she’d reported to native authorities however as an alternative in a never-before explored part. They’re totally on their very own, with no hope of assist.
As the ladies progress deeper into the cave, searching for an exit, they discover outdated climbing tools together with a portray which may level towards a method out. One other member of the group, Holly, rushes ahead at an indication of sunshine, earlier than falling right into a gap and breaking her leg. Whereas the opposite ladies are inclined to her, Sarah seems round and sees a creature ingesting from a pool of water earlier than it notices her and scurries into the darkness.
The “Crawlers” in The Descent are terrifying creatures who stay at nighttime areas.
After that, issues go from very dangerous to a lot, a lot worse. The ladies encounter a big room crammed with animal bones, in addition to the creatures that consumed them. These pale humanoid monsters that the ladies dub “Crawlers” assault them viciously at nighttime, whereas they struggle again as finest they’ll.
Holly, hindered by her damaged leg, is the Crawlers’ first sufferer, and he or she’s shortly dragged off into the darkness. Within the ensuing chaos, Sarah is knocked unconscious, whereas Juno by accident stabs good friend Beth within the neck. June flees, however not earlier than Beth snatches a pendant round her neck.
When Sarah regains consciousness to a horrifying sight. She watches Crawlers struggle over the physique of her good friend and realizes the utter bleakness of the state of affairs. Sarah refuses to surrender although, and buckles down for a struggle, ready to seek out her method again to the floor.
I will not spoil the devastating third act. You may want to look at your self to study whether or not Juno and Sarah survive the horrors of the tunnels and the Crawlers that inhabit them. At slightly below 100 minutes, this darkish plunge into terror works nice as half a film marathon, or a fast weeknight flick.
The Descent has thrilled audiences for 20 years and shortly reached basic standing for an excellent motive — it is a tightly paced and really scary film that drags you deep beneath the earth, delivering a narrative and characters you will not overlook. Stream it now on Prime Video, to find all the terrors that the caves are hiding.
