The Descent

In terms of strong females in the cinema, this is the new 'Alien(s)' and 'Terminator 1&2'. In fact, it can be argued that 'The Descent' achieved more than what its predecessors: a cast consisting of females almost in its entirety (there is one male character and some extras who don't appear on the screen for longer than a minute). Did I mention the movie aces the infamous Bechdel Test ?


Synopsis
The story focuses on six women and one hell of the caving expedition. Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) has lost her child and her husband a year prior. And, althought we don't get too many details on the rest of the characters, we get enough to gather they are all charismatic and independent young women. They all venture to the Appalachia Mountains to explore a mysterious cave. Little do they know, the cave holds some dangerous surprises.


Review 
The movie begins with an amazing scene where Sarah, Juno (Nathalie Jackson Mendoza)and Beth (Alex Reid) raft through some rough looking river, while Sarah's husband waits with their daughter on the shore. Now, that is some clever and subtle (for a splashy horror) way to communicate the relationship between these people! We have the outdoor type of women (read: tough), sharing the adventurous experience. And, a man, who passively supports their efforts from the safety of the shore. While coming home from their rafting Sarah and her family get into a car accident. Her husband and her child die.

The next scene is somewhat foretelling of Sarah's fate. She wakes up in the hospital with an image of her daughter blowing birthday candles. She struggles into an empty corridor, trying to find her girl. She notices something is terribly wrong. The lights at the end of the corridor go off one by one. The menacing darkness tries to reach her. She tries to escape and screaming, runs into the arms of Beth. Only then, the reality of events truly hits Sarah. The memory of her daughter's birthday is the echoing reflection on the life she ones had and the bitter reminder of the loneliness of her present life. The corridor resembles narrow cave passages. And, in a greater scheme of things, the hospital's corridor might symbolise Sarah's life. The darkness hunting Sarah holds all fears she tries to run away from. She will realise them only in the arms of her friend, Beth. What an absolutely brilliant way to show the strength of female friendship and support!

A year later, the undertaking six women decide on will force them to face their fears and deal with issues they might have with each other. Neil Marshall (the director) does not patronise his protagonists. No cliches of histerical women when confronted with danger. No,so often typical for horrors, scenes with females just screaming and flapping their hands around. This is some serious shit these characters are in. And, trust me, they won't stop fighting until their last drop of blood. What a movie.

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