The Descent 2 DVD Review
The Descent 2 DVD Review
Into the black hole of sequels we go.
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The Descent 2 picks up almost immediately where The Descent one left off — assuming you only know the kinder, gentler U.S.-version ending — finding a shell-shocked Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) barely conscious in the hospital after her ill-fated spelunking foray. Sarah had company when she went into the caves, but emerged alone, setting into motion a full-on search party for her friends. Led by a sheriff and a ragtag group of would-be rescuers, Sarah (suddenly a commando) steps back into the darkness for round two with The Things That Killed All Her Friends (aka, "The Crawlers").
Although this film is produced by Neil Marshall (he directed The Descent), although it's helmed by someone who worked on the first (Jon Harris), and although it has everything horror fans loved from the first one (vicious creatures, et al), The Descent 2 is inert.
Perhaps it only pales in comparison because the original was so unique and twisted, but that's what viewers of sequels tend to do: compare. I know I did. One thing I didn't like was that it was too well-lit. For being underground, the action should at least seem dark (the same DP returns, but it appears he's just going through the motions this time) and menacing; it's not. The creatures were shadowy, skinny, slinky and merciless; they're still pretty much the same, but seem bulkier and more efficient now (I think they're supposed to be a different breed… but why? And did the new crew evolve in the short time between Sarah's departure and her return?). The characters were ones we got to know, and cared about; not anymore. Finally, Marshall clearly had a passion for the project; debut director Harris seems to be looking for a way to cut his teeth.
So, let's say you haven't seen the first Descent or you simply have a soft spot for victims caught between a rock and a hard place — in that case, The Descent 2 is an adequate horror DVD. There are some scenes fraught with taut suspense and spectacularly gory payoffs (including those followed by jump-scares, and the ever-popular evisceration and/or disembowelment while hanging in the air from a climbers' gear rope).
There are more extras on the DVD than you can shake a pick-axe at. Extras include audio commentary with director Jon Harris and actors Shauna MacDonald, Krysten Cummings and Anna Skellern; deleted scenes; a Making of The Descent: Part 2: Deeper and Darker featurette, and storyboards. The Making-of featurette is actually very informative, and the interviews with Neil Marshall are most welcome.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson
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