The Descent

I wanted to see this movie about cave diving women who wind up lost, stuck, and hunted by underground flesh-eaters because I wanted to be really scared and I thought that anything involving serious claustrophobia would do the trick. I wound up getting so much more than I bargained for; to say it was a pleasant surprise wouldn't be fitting, but it was certainly a surprise. I already told you the basic plot, and from that you, like me, would probably say that it looks like a routinely cheesy and stereotypical horror movie. You couldn't be more wrong. The simplicity of the plot lets the director, one Neil Marshall, take us on a well paced, dare I say beautifully shot, and ultimately terrifying thrill ride that leaves you gasping for a breath you probably won't actually have for days to come. The whole first half is suspenseful build up as the girls realize they have crawled into a cave they do not know and may very well never escape, all thanks to the cocky alpha-dog Juno. The real main character is Sarah who is still recovering from the loss of a husband and daughter merely one short year before in a car accident. Things between her and Juno have been rocky since the accident, and the trip, though meant to help, only exasperates this to a breaking point. The other handful of girls serve their purposes, but even as we watch them drop like flies we don't hate them for walking into obvious traps, we instead feel their building horror as they, and we, realize there is really no way out and no way to keep the monsters at bay forever. Besides the occasional incident of pride blinding one or the other, these are smart tough girls who do the best they can in a freak situation and it just plain isn't good enough. There are parts in this movie than will actually make you throw up and instead of recommending it, I must advise those with weak stomachs from seeing it in the strongest way possible. Be that as it may, if you think you can handle horrific violence and extremely small spaces for an hour and a half, this is the movie for you. The thrills aren't cheap and the final outcome, while toned down from the original British version, is fitting to the rest of the film in surprise and terror.

A

Neil Young: Heart of Gold

I don't have a lot to say about this one, it's the filmed premier of Neil Young's "Prairie Wind" concert tour and as such it is really nothing more than a concert on DVD. There's nothing to say about cinematography except that it's pretty basic. Staging is also pretty by the book. Neil Young, being the main attraction, is seen center stage surrounded off and on by his many singing/song writing friends. With that all going on in a very simple and clean cut way the audience is given the opportunity to enjoy Young's music free of serious distraction and this, as it turns out, is a very good thing for us. I had never listened to the music of Neil Young before I watched this movie and the fact that it held my attention speaks to the talent of both Young and his fellow musicians. This doesn't mean I've become some kind of Neil Young super fan, in fact I doubt I'll ever watch this again. That isn't the point of a movie like this. I liked this movie because I see how there are so many Neil Young fans who may never get a chance to see him in concert, and now they can rent this for all of $3.85. Sure a live show is probably even better, but with Young's life stories and explanations between the songs the whole affair comes off very well, and besides offering a good show for long time fans Heart of Gold lets new comers, like myself, get a well rounded look into the music career of Neil Young. I wish more artists would offer movies like this, it works great for the people who like it, and the others have no real reason to dislike it.

B+