Short Review: 'The Descent: Part 2' (2009)

The 2005 monster hit that was Neil Marshall’s The Descent came almost unexpectedly amid horror’s new millennium rebirth and, for many, brought significant critical respect back to the genre. An immensely effective film in its own right, the jokingly dubbed ‘chicks with picks’ chiller harkened back to an older style of slow-burning suspense and mounting claustrophobia as wells as placing a strong emphasis on one of humanity’s most primal fears: the dark. When a sequel was announced in 2007 many a fanboy turned up their nose in disgust, especially when taking into account the definitively fateful closing events of the first film and how a successor could logically follow in its footsteps. However, with the original films’ editor, John Harris, on board as director this time round the filmmakers have solved that problem by basing the entire movie around the decisively less pessimistic ‘alternate’ ending of the original that played exclusively in U.S theatres. Convenient enough, isn’t it?

After having battled off the remaining hordes of nocturnal beasties that killed her friends in the subterranean caves of Appalachia, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) is discovered by a rescue team operation and taken to hospital as the sole survivor. Investigating Sheriff (Gavin O’Herlihy) suspects Sarah of killing her companions and, despite her suffering from amnesia, insists that she accompany a new search team back down into the caves to look for evidence of the ordeal. Reluctantly making the trip with a trauma victim in tow, tensions between the group soon run high when a rupturing of the rock structure closes off their exit point, bringing them all face to face with the same nasty creatures responsible for the decimation of Sarah’s team just hours before.

Coming off the heels of such an exceptional original is tough for any sequel, let alone one widely regarded as one of the best horror films of the last decade. And while this direct-to-DVD follow up really isn’t all that bad it’s definitely not without its fair share of glaring problems. For example, Marshall’s sophomore effort invested so heavily in the initial unity of its characters and the devastating effects caused by their eventual crumbling of faith in each other as a result of the horrors engulfing them. And while Harris and co may have managed to retrieve the first films’ heroine (as well as another key character not to be revealed here) there simply exists no identifiable union between the remainder of the group, despite some solid performances once the mayhem kicks in. This setback is noticeable enough to fans for it to make a considerable impression, as the likable band of gals featured so prominently in the initial film were one of its strongest attributes. Furthermore, the motivation on behalf of the authorities to force a shellshocked victim back to the scene of the crime less than 24hrs (?) after the incident occurred makes it significantly difficult for an audience to sympathize with their plight.

From a visual and atmospheric stance the film is also a vastly different beast. Pervading so heavily through the environment of the original’s cave structure was a depth of darkness and shadow so palpable and convincing that one couldn’t help but surrender to the claustrophobia. Sam McCurdy’s photography this time, whilst slick, is frustratingly over-lit to the point that every passageway and indentation of the terrain is clearly visible to the naked eye, drastically diminishing the suspense as a result. The film also plays its cards far more jokingly this time round, the most obvious examples being the nonsensical return of a thought-to-be-dead character from the original and the replacement of its iconic pool of blood with a pool of shit. Yes, a pool of shit.

With all things considered it was perhaps an impossible undertaking for Harris to better Marshall’s efforts with this films’ initiating of the Descent as a potential franchise. For undiscriminating viewers Part 2 undoubtedly delivers the gruesome goods in spades and is entertaining enough to compliment a beer n’ pizza get together. For the more than faithful cheerleaders of the previous shocker, however, its inferiority will no doubt leave an underwhelming after taste.



Dir: John Harris
Writer: J Blakeson, James McCarthy & James Watkins
Cast: Shauna Macdonald, Douglas Hodge, Gavin O’Herlihy, Anna Skellern
Country: UK
Run Time: 94mins
Rating: MA15+