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"The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

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Old 11-04-08 | 11:17 PM
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The Descent succeeded because it had a very real sense of pathos thanks to the first fifteen minutes of the film. In that period of time it established a sympathetic character worthy of pity and admiration (really, who gets over that?) and then put her up in the tree to be tormented for the rest of the film.

Like the ending of the U.S. theatrical version, though, the sequel looks like a train wreck.
Old 11-05-08 | 12:00 AM
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I thought it effectively conveyed horrible claustrophobia (I think the movie made me never ever want to go into any sort of underground cave ever) but I thought the other aspects of it were pedestrian. Certainly not as good as I had hoped from UK reviews touting it as the "scariest movie ever".
Old 01-20-09 | 10:07 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Originally Posted by Jackskeleton
I don't know how the domestic ending changed other than one got away or some shit like that.
The only difference is that US version ends with the dream/scare of Juno in the SUV. That's it. There wasn't some massively different ending as everyone keeps suggesting.

Although there is a possibility it's all in Sarah's head, neither version really establishes that concretely at all. It's just an amusing fan theory.

There was a summary of the sequel plot someone posted on IMDB. Basically the suequel pics up exactly where the first left off. Although we heard Juno scream, we never saw her die. She finds Sarah and they meet up with another group of people. Lemme see if I can find it and post it here.
Old 01-20-09 | 10:15 PM
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SPOILERS ** Full Script

Okay, I found the post:

Spoiler:
Originally Posted by lita_luver
OPEN in the Appalachian mountains, just where the original film ended. We hear the voicemail messages of the six girls who went spelunking in the caves there and were never heard from again. A mountain RANGER's voice messages reveals that the girls are missing. Did they forget to call in? Or are they in trouble? CUT TO the rescue team outside the Boreham Caverns: there's DAN, the leader, with GREG, 22, and CATH, 27, working as volunteers. They head down into the caves, noting the dangerous outcroppings and sheer rockfaces. They emerge from the cave with no clues, glowering at Chief Deputy VAINES, who is pressured to get some kind of search party going. But where to start?

Suddenly, a woman staggers into the window of a roadhouse café, smearing it with blood. This is SARAH, one of the cavers! She collapses and is taken to the hospital, where Vaines and his younger partner, the female RIOS, try to question her. Rios tries the soft touch, but Sarah is clearly traumatized, hearing ‘click' sounds everywhere, fearing for her life ... and unable or unwilling to talk. Believing that Sarah's memory is the key to finding the others, Vaines finally takes over and decides to take Sarah with them into the caves. Her memory will certainly be jogged, and maybe she can help them locate the other lost girls before time runs out.

Sarah allows herself to be taken to the mines. She sits there, numb, totally shut down. Vaines, Rios, Dan, Greg, and Cath accompany her down in the creaky elevator, where Sarah gets more and more nervous. Realizing where she is going, she finally lashes out, screaming, "Don't go down! There's something down there!" but it's too late - they are halfway down into the caves. Sarah is restrained. They reach the bottom and begin looking for the lost girls as Sarah's fear becomes nearly overwhelming. Rios tries to soothe her, but down in the dark caves, with collapsing ceilings, drips and clicks and echoes everywhere ... it's very creepy. Dan watches Sarah's reaction and regrets allowing Vaines to bring her down.

Suddenly the group comes upon a horse skeleton on the floor. Claw marks on the walls. Sarah shrinks in fear. They then find a snaplight and boot - from a caver! When Cath shouts out for the girls, Sarah tries to smother her into silence. She admits that there are "creatures" down there. Then they find the body of a girl (REBECCA from the first film). Half of her face is missing; a rat slips out of her mouth. Should Sarah be considered a suspect?

The radios stop working, and the group is clearly lost. Dan and Cath veer off alone. When Cath is trapped after a ceiling collapse, Dan tries to calm her and promises to return, but he wonders if he'll ever see her again. He comes upon BETH's (from first film) smashed face while several feet away, Rios sees Holly's body, eviscerated. Dan can't believe Sarah would do that, and Rios points out the savageness of the wounds. Sarah dashes off alone into one of the honeycomb tunnels. In the distance, Greg screams. Sarah turns off her flashlight and ducks down, quiet, then traces a drip of water. Then Dan and Rios find the cavers' camcorder, which plays back the scenes of their laughter and fun. The replay shows them entering this very spot of the cave, seeing the animals' bones. Then the shadow of a CRAWLER is visible, and as Rios struggles to rewind it, a Crawler appears right before them, hisses ... and Rios drops the camcorder. As Dan fumbles about the sudden darkness for it, Sarah grabs Rios and covers her mouth just as a

Crawler appears, sniffing around. Sarah refuses to warn Dan. Dan finds the camera and lifts its

light just in time to see Sarah holding Rios - and then bam! He is attacked, eaten, but Sarah and Rios are safe as the Crawler drags Dan's body away. Rios is horrified that Sarah just let Dan die, but Sarah won't stay around to be scolded. She takes Dan's left-behind flares, flashlight, maps and tools and heads out. Rios follows, freaked out. CUT TO Cath, still trapped, hearing the sinister clicks, thinking Dan is approaching. But of course it's a Crawler, whom Cath manages to slam in the face with a sharp rock, dislodging the rest of the ceiling. As it falls, the Crawler is killed and Cath escapes before being buried. She scurries down the tunnels and finds herself in a Crawler Catacomb. Cath bumps into Greg. They are relieved to be together.

Meanwhile Vaines comes upon Dan's body and assumes Sarah killed him. He tries to contact Cath and Greg via the radio, but his message is barely audible. Cath and Greg keep running and come upon SAM's body (from the first film), dangling upside down from a rope, her innards chewed away. The duo is chased by Crawlers; Cath swings at it with her pick but is pulled down, and devoured. Meanwhile Sarah climbs and swims through numerous tunnels and poor Rios, out of her depth, struggles to keep up. Sarah risks her life to save Rios. The two women form a bond as they nearly drown, are decapitated, and chased by Crawlers. They struggle to find a way out. Rios records a last message on her phone for her little daughter while Sarah remembers hers (now dead). They have a narrow escape from a hungry Crawler.

In another part of the cave, Greg is attacked by two smaller Crawlers but is attacked by its MOTHER and eventually kills himself on his own whirring drill. CUT TO Vaines, who thinks he's being attacked by Crawlers but comes face to face with JUNO - one of the girls lost in the cave! She is filthy, feral, and up for a fight. Vaines still believes Sarah is to blame, and Juno (who remembers killing Beth) is disinclined to change his mind with the facts. But then Vaines catches sight of a Crawler and stares in utter disbelief. Juno kills it. Vaines now blames Sarah for leaving Juno and the others for dead. Juno senses the Crawlers advancing and attacks with her teeth. Then she grabs her pick and is about to strike in another direction when she comes fact to face with ... Sarah. They stare, frozen. Vaines then takes charge and ushers them to find out away. They four (with Rios) are the only ones left.

Then, as they try to escape, the ground gives way beneath Vaines's feet. The girls realize they have to leave him or be killed themselves, and seeing their choice, Vaines claps handcuffs around his own wrist to Sarah's. When the Crawlers, chewing on the dangling Vaines, threaten to bring down the whole group, they struggle for the keys without success. Finally Juno uses an axe to chop Vaines's arm off at the wrist. He falls, screaming, as the others tread carefully through the caves looking for a possible exit. The find the area, blood-drenched, where the Crawlers eat; there they are, chomping away. The three press on until they see an opening up above. Juno waits below while Sarah and Rios press their backs together and ‘walk' up the side. Sarah throws a rope for Juno, and hauls her up. But Juno is getting mauled from below, and she gives Sarah permission to go after Rios, who has found the cave opening, and safety.

But Sarah chooses to stay and help Juno fight off the Crawlers. They are about to be overrun by hundreds when they realize they still have Dan's gas detector, signaling a red alert for methane. Using a lighter, the girls ignite a fireball that rushes through the tunnels, killing everything (even them ...?) while Rios, out safely, calls for backup just as a Crawler attacks her, jaws open.
Old 01-20-09 | 10:38 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

as much as i'd like to skip this.. i'll probably sucker myself into watching it... just like i do with every awful Saw film.

seriously though, this sequel sounds like the equivalent of "Three Ninjas Kick Back!"

just like '28 Days Later'... you get the idea - the symbolism is made plain in clear view - it ends at a fantastic point. why would a sequel be necessary for either of these? well.. aside from obvious box office sales.
Old 01-20-09 | 10:44 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

I was VERY reluctant to see 28 Weeks Later. Recently it was one of my "oh, what the hell? Why not?" rentals and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm hoping the same holds true for this sequel.
Old 01-21-09 | 12:56 AM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Originally Posted by RocShemp
I was VERY reluctant to see 28 Weeks Later. Recently it was one of my "oh, what the hell? Why not?" rentals and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm hoping the same holds true for this sequel.
I, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. I was looking very forward to 28 Weeks Later and came out severely disappointed. I'll be there for 28 Months Later if Boyle can get a different set of writers / director.

With Marshall not having a hand in this sequel, I don't know how I feel just yet. I'll probably see it as I loved the first; but doesn't mean I'll like it.
Old 01-21-09 | 01:24 AM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

I guess my lowered expectations and your raised expectations directly related to our respective enjoyment of that sequel?

I hope that same holds true for me with The De2ent. I loved the first and feel a sequel is pointless. However, I know I'm gonna watch it anyway.

I didn't know there was gonna be a a 28 Months Later. I simply took the last scene of 28 Weeks Later as a typical horror movie non-ending. That the story continues even if there might not be a sequel.
Old 01-21-09 | 02:09 AM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

I'll watch the sequel, but won't expect much. I think I would rather it not pick up right after the first, but whatever.

I still need to pick up the region 2 Dog Soldiers disc.
Old 01-21-09 | 08:07 AM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

The problem is that any way you try to make a sequel or prequel to this, we've been there before.

They could make a sequel that only features the new team searching for the girls from part one. But that'll essentially be a retread of everything that happened in part 1 but with more gore and the reveal coming in sooner.

They could make a prequel of the first team that was there about 100 years ago. But it would essentially be the first film but in the early 1900s. But, once again, that'll essentially be a retread of everything that happened in part 1 but with more gore and the reveal coming in sooner.

At least from what I see in that spoiler I quoted from IMDB,
Spoiler:
they're attempting to initially suggest Sarah is simply crazy. This works since it plays to the fan theory that the monster's were all in Sarah's head. Then - boom - we see she's not crazy afterall and the crawlers are real.
It's not perfect
Spoiler:
(how did the injured Juno survive long enough for Sarah to be interrogated and then taken back to the cave system where it all happened?)
but at least it has enough setup to build tension. That buildup is where the strength of the first film lies. Hopefully the sequel can match it.

Since LosingMyMind brought up Dog Soldiers, are there any plans for a BD release of that film?
Old 01-21-09 | 01:35 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Pass. Sounds like just a recap of the original.
Old 01-21-09 | 04:43 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Originally Posted by RocShemp
I simply took the last scene of 28 Weeks Later as a typical horror movie non-ending. That the story continues even if there might not be a sequel.
Boyle mentioned that they're in the pre-planning stages, but nothing concrete yet. I'm just not a fan of the direction 28 Weeks Later took. My major problems also lie with the film's final few minutes where it feels like a majority of the material that would've made sense either was left on the cutting room floor or they ran out of money.

I'm not reading the spoiler to the sequel as I am tempted to actually watch the movie, but I'm curious if Lionsgate will send this to theaters or direct to video.
Old 01-21-09 | 09:05 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Check out the writer's other work. I've seen it and I'm now looking forward to this sequel.

Reviews:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/36016/eden-lake/

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/35929/eden-lake/
Old 02-16-09 | 11:54 AM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Just checked out the promo trailer on YouTube. I gotta say, it looks a lot better than I thought it could. Granted, I'm sure it would be much better if Marshall were back but I'll more than likely pick up the DVD. Anyone know if this is DTV or theatrical?
Old 02-16-09 | 12:33 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

I wasn't that impressed with the Teaser, but I had a bias going into it. Will go for my love of the first film and stay for the hot chicks with fancy accents.
Old 02-16-09 | 12:39 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Thought the preview looked terrible, and lowered my already low expectations... I'll rent it for $1 from Redbox, but that's about it.
Old 02-16-09 | 01:11 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Doesn't this remind you guys of Alien? Sarah isn't unlike Ripley, plus they're using the "you're the only one who's been down there so you have to be part of the team" angle. Might as well just send her down with a bunch of marines and turn this into over the top action like Alien(s).
Old 02-17-09 | 02:55 AM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

The trailer for the second actually made me want to revisit the first, which I was underwhelmed by when it came out after all this "scariest movie ever!" talk.
Old 08-28-09 | 05:45 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

<embed src='http://videomedia.ign.com/ev/ev.swf' flashvars='object_ID=14316746&downloadURL=http://moviesmovies.ign.com/movies/video/article/101/1019120/descent2_flvlow.flv&allownetworking="all"' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='433' height='360' ></embed>

looks like a complete retread and will never capture the absolute magic of the first.

thanks to anavrin0901 for original post.
Old 08-28-09 | 06:38 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

The teaser left me indifferent. It didn't kill my moderate interest in the sequel but it certainly didn't encourage it either.
Old 08-28-09 | 07:18 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

I hate it when they try to be clever and put a number into the title.
Old 08-28-09 | 07:28 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

S4me here.
Old 08-28-09 | 07:41 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

I still think the best way to have a sequel to the original would be an entirely different set of people find the cave, with no one from the original film appearing or being mentioned in it at all. That way, both the superior, darker U.K. ending (aka the unrated version) or the inferior U.S. ending (that omits the real ending) would still be valid.

I mean who really cares about seeing any of the human characters from the original again anyway? It's what's living in the cave that matters!
Old 08-28-09 | 09:04 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Originally Posted by dhmac
That way, both the superior, darker U.K. ending (aka the unrated version) or the inferior U.S. ending (that omits the real ending) would still be valid.
You do realise the UK ending isn't really darker, right? It just continues a little more after that silly final scare (where the US version ended). We never saw Juno die (we just heard her scream) and we never saw Sarah die (we just heard the crawlers approaching).

Both the US release and the UK release are inconclusive regarding the final fates of those two women. Having Sarah escape doesn't invalidate anything. She could have easily snapped out of her delirium just in time to avoid detection and chance upon an exit. And Juno could have easily tumbled through one of the many passages in the cave and avoided death by the skin of her teeth. Afterward she could easily be hiding from the crawlers whilst still searching for a way out once Sarah was dragged back into the cave by the search team.
Old 08-28-09 | 11:21 PM
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Re: "The De2ent" -- aka "The Descent 2"

Originally Posted by RocShemp
You do realise the UK ending isn't really darker, right? It just continues a little more after that silly final scare (where the US version ended). We never saw Juno die (we just heard her scream) and we never saw Sarah die (we just heard the crawlers approaching).
The implication of that entire final scene in the U.K./unrated version is she never gets out. She fell down a hole, so there is no exit where she is and the crawlers are approaching. Her hallucinating her dead daughter and then smiling seems to indicate that she has either lost her mind or that she will soon happily be reunited with her daughter in death. Either way, she's not as likely to fight the crawler as she did earlier.

In fact, the implication of the whole movie is no one has ever gotten out of that cave alive. That's why it was never on any maps even though they found old climbing equipment still in the cave. No one ever gets out alive and the existence of the crawlers is never reported to the world.


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