PRINTMovie review: Sanctum
Explorers fight to survive the least accessible cave system on Earth
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Not for the claustrophobic: A group of explorers delves into the deepest caverns on Earth ---in 3D.
February 5, 2011 | 11:30 a.m. CST
Sanctum is based on the true story of a scuba-diving expedition in the Esa-ala Caves of Papua New Guinea.
Co-writer and producer Andrew Wight was one of the explorers trapped in the cave. He adapted the 3D film from his experiences to show the world what happened down there.
Related MovieFrank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) leads the expedition, dragging his 17-year-old son, Josh (Rhys Wakefield), along. The story follows five divers on a journey to survive when a tropical storm hits the coast and a flood cuts off the only known exit, leaving the divers to face frigid waters, low supplies and treacherous terrain with not much of a plan.
The movie is mildly predictable. The scenes are set up for danger with death being the ultimate end scene. There are many cues to hint at, or rather, point directly at the fact that one of the explorers is about to die, but which one? Just give it 15 more seconds and you’ll know which one it is.
James Cameron as executive producer sets high expectations for the 3D aspect, but the concept failed. Beyond the scenery of the cave there was no need for 3D and it added nothing more to the film.
The film started off slow and seemed to take forever to get to the excitement. However, once the excitement started, the suspense captivated the audience and kept them on the edge of their seats. The actors were not absolutely terrible, but remained second-rate. The poor acting was most noticeable when the movie felt sluggish though it was overshadowed by the suspense of wondering who will survive as the movie neared its end.
Prepare for mildly disturbing scenes. And, keep in mind that this movie is about extreme survival.
Vox Rating:
