The Descent (2005)

There are several things that make The Descent (2005) an especially effective and interesting horror film. For example, the fact that it has an all-female cast, something very unusual for this genre. This means that motifs that are common in horror film, such as the "final girl," make an appearance here but their meaning changes quite radically. Similarly, although the film is littered with victims, as we might expect, the meaning of the women's deaths is quite different from the standard slasher movie, in that it is neither sexualized nor a result of the women's sexual activity. The other thing that stands out about The Descent is its hybrid nature: as much a thriller as a horror film (although there is plenty of gore), it's a combination of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Deliverance, and even the Alien movies. And then, of course, there's the fact that the vast majority of the film takes place in very confined spaces, i.e., caves. As someone who is mildly claustrophobic, the thought of spelunking has always seemed incomprehensible to me, and director Neil Marshall makes brilliant use of this setting, so that the audience always feel smothered as well as terrified. Interestingly, the original British cut of the film includes a much bleaker ending that was changed for the American release. What is it about Americans that we/they (I speak as a naturalized citizen!) always want to be uplifted?