29 January 2013

The Descent: Part 2 2009 - REVIEW



First off, I know that "The Descent: Part 2" as been out for a while now, but I will totally explain WHY I haven't bothered to watch it until now. So, here we go.

To say I loved the first one, is an understatement. I think it's one of the best horror films of the past 10 years. So, I, personally, was livid as a fan, when I found out that they made a sequel. This is because the directors-cut of The Descent, is really how it should have ended. So, I refused to watch it... until now.

Before we get into my thoughts on the sequel, here's the official gist on the film: Distraught, confused, and half-wild with fear, Sarah Carter (Shauna Macdonald) emerges alone from the Appalachian cave system where she encountered unspeakable terrors. Unable to plausibly explain to the authorities what happened - or why she's covered in her friends' blood - Sarah is forced back to the subterranean depths, Sheriff Vaines (Gavan O'Herlihy), to help locate her five missing companions. As the rescue party drives deeper into uncharted caverns, nightmarish visions of the recent past begin to haunt Sarah and she starts to realize the full horror and futility of the mission. Subjected to the suspicion and mistrust of the group and confronted once more by the inbred, feral and savagely ruthless Crawlers, Sarah must draw on all her inner reserves of strength and courage in a desperate final struggle for deliverance and redemption.

Now, let's get the facts about this film out of the way, so we can move on to the interesting stuff i.e., my opinion. From a visual standpoint, the film, once again, is beautiful, via "DP" Sam McCurdy. The feeling of claustrophobia is all too present, plenty of aerial shots of a gorgeous and vast "Appalachian forest". The soundtrack is once again truly perfect, via David Julyan.

Now that I got that out of the way, all I can say is... Jesus H. Werewolf. The sequel is shit! Let us ignore the fact that its almost exactly like the first film. Let us ignore the fact that characters, who should be DEAD, are still roaming around the caves, battling it out with the "cavelings" or "mutant bat people". Let us ignore the fact that a trail, that a dog finds in the beginning of the film, that is picked up from Sarah's clothes, leads to an old mining shaft ( something that was NEVER referenced or even shown or even a part of the first film. ) Lets ignore all those facts and simply ask... the old man, at the end, what in the hell was that all about? They might as well had Gallagher come running up with his over-sized melon smasher and do a 5 minute routine. Cause that would have made just as much fucking sense.

Oh, here's a subplot that we have, that we thought we would throw at you, which makes no fucking sense, because we didn't spend any real time with anything relevant to his character. No motivation for this random character was ever presented. We're just going to throw it at you at the very end and then say "See ya!".

When it comes to the question of if you should see this film or not, I would simply say, viewer beware. For me, being a huge fan of the first film, it felt sacrilegious to watch a sequel. As it turned out, my feelings or concern were right. I mean, for some films, I take sequels very seriously. I have still, up to this day, never watched "Blues Brothers 2000". I simply won't do it. Am I over thinking films? Am I taking things way too seriously? Who knows.

Bottom line, if you are a real fan of "The Descent" and the directors cut ending, and still haven't seen this one... take my word for it... this sequel, will most likely not set well with you.

Reviewed by: Brandon Blake


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