The Descent Part 2 (Spoiler Alert)

Again we return to the same setting as the first one. I liked that the same people who made the first movie are involved in this sequel. The film takes place two days after the events of the last story.

While the viewers know what is going on in the caves, the new cast of characters have no idea what they are in for. The first movie relied on the element of surprise to give us a thrill. In this new film, we are just left to wait for the inevitable bloodletting to begin.

It was a nice bit of writing to have a rescue team already looking for the girls though I hated that they had to add the fact that one of them from the last movie was a Senator's daughter. They never mention that in the first 'Descent'. Of course the media and everyone would be into that story because all the girls were white.

Sara is back and has been brought to the hospital after her two day ordeal but can't remember anything useful to tell the police at first. They are understandably suspicious since she was found covered in blood with pieces of flesh under her fingernails.

When a rescue party goes back into the caves they take Sara with them in the hopes that she can assist in the search. Kinda cruel considering what she just went through but if she has no memory of it....

Adding three men to the tale cut out what made the first Descent so great. We don't naturally expect women to be so tough and brutal while fighting for their lives. It was exciting to see. But it was nice to see that men can become even more frightened than women when confronted by an unknown terror.

One can argue that that is the appeal of the 'slasher' flicks. Seeing a group whittled down to one girl who must find the courage to fight an evil bigger and stronger than she is.

Again, most of the scares come from the 'jumping cat' moments. It's effective the first five times but after that you feel cheated that someone couldn't find another way to induce the 'heebie jeebies' (well besides using the claustrophobia of the caves and the danger of cave-ins)

I want to talk about a script moment here that I found very effective. Originally the cop who brought Sarah along with them suspects that she had something to do with her missing friends. We know she doesn't. So when her memories come back full force and she takes off from the group, she only confirms everyone's suspicions of her. That makes it impossible for her to convince the rescue team of the danger they are in and from what. That is a twist that ramps up the tension even more and gives us several parallel story lines to follow.

When the movie does get going though it has some really effective moments and gruesome effects comparable to the first one. I didn't feel as much disconnect from the first one that I thought I would. The tone and feeling of absolute dread permeates both stories. I felt like I watched a 3 hour miniseries.

It's unfortunate that the trailer gave a HUGE spoiler away. They should have had more confidence that the first movie was strong enough to bring in the audience who was curious about the sequel like I was.

I totally hated the ending. It really comes out of left field and seems only designed to created a third part to this saga. However, up to the last minute of the movie I was totally impressed with my viewing experience.

So what did I learn from both 'Descent' movies? Bad ass creatures that live in caves have a jugular vein and that is a good thing to remember (not that I am going into a cave anytime soon).