Started by Carl Cruz · · 👁 16 views · 203 replies
Christian Hernandez92 said:I honestly just don't get how anyone can call this movie a masterpiece?!
It’s actually wild how so many people, even hardcore horror fans, hype this mediocre flick up and act like it belongs in the same league as the all-time greats...
The whole thing is just riddled with flaws, half-baked ideas, and total nonsense; the scenario biti pun rupa and full of logical gaps that basically insult the intelligence of any average viewer, and at times it gets so predictable and forced it’s almost impossible to sit through; all of that just creates this grating sense of disbelief that, for me, is pretty much the defining trait of this movie...
I’ll only mention a few things since it’s been a while since I watched it (and I had to watch it twice—once because I couldn't believe such a massive flop was getting so much praise)...
S P O I L E R !
The biggest issue, which the entire concept relies on, is the evolution part. Basically, you're supposed to buy that these "monsters" are actually humans who’ve been trapped in the dark, isolated in caves for years and evolved into a new kind of predator...
The movie claims they lost their sight, their hearing, and even their sense of touch. But somehow, none of that stops them from popping up on the surface every now and then to hunt animals that are way faster and more agile, creatures that have all their senses intact and are perfectly adapted to life on the surface and fighting off other predators. And despite all those trips to the surface, they always manage to stay totally undetected. You have to wonder how a creature that’s supposedly COMPLETELY incapable of living above ground would even handle it... Seeing all the animal bones the main characters find deep in the cave really makes you think these things are killing stuff on the surface quite successfully—the contrast is just insane...
Then there are moments in the movie that represent the absolute peak of zero logic: like how the "monsters" don't feel fire just inches away from them, meaning they can't see it or feel the heat, yet the fight scenes with the girls and the way they stalk and kill them suggest something COMPLETELY different about what these creatures are capable of; or when a monster holds its hand right on one of the girls' heads and doesn't notice her presence—not the body heat, the breathing, the torch burning right next to her—it's obvious... Despite everything mentioned, these "monsters" still act like perfect predators, jumping out of the shadows, walking on the ceiling (!!!!!!!), and hunting the girls with a level of skill that would require them to have fully developed senses, high intellect, and perfect motor skills... Just look at the scenes where they emerge from the darkness to hunt their "prey"—the main characters—and then compare that to the huge holes in the logic, and it's easy to see how inconsistent the whole idea is...
The absurdity, inconsistency, and, frankly, stupidity just keeps going: a girl travels from the UK to the US and, through no fault of her own, stumbles upon a brand-new cave system right next to a famous, well-mapped one that experts and researchers had already thoroughly explored; and that rockslide that blocks their ONLY exit is such a cliché, forced moment (which, weirdly enough, is CRUCIAL for the plot) that it actually made me want to gag... And regarding the theory of evolution—that process takes thousands of years. Given when America was discovered, we can only conclude these "monsters" are an exception to evolution, like some kind of crazy, super-fast evolutionary jump happened in those caves (which is actually my favorite little detail ;)).
I should also mention that this movie isn't just suffering from these kinds of errors and absurdities—I could go on FOREVER about the terrible character development, how it focuses on useless, trivial details instead of the actual plot, the shallow relationships between characters, the poorly defined motives, and so much more... but I won't. I think I've said enough about why this movie doesn't deserve its rating, highlighting just a fraction of its failures, and how it fails to scare or even make anyone think if they've ever seen more than three GOOD, coherent horror movies in their life...
P.S. And okay, here’s my hot take on the stuff most people get wrong—the idea that those "monsters" aren't even real, but are just some hallucination cooked up by > because her past, all those regrets, frustrations, and old wounds, is crashing head-first into this nightmare reality of constant darkness, claustrophobia, and being trapped with people who have their own dark histories and messy motives... to me, that’s honestly the only way to truly make sense of the movie, and it totally lines up with how I see it. Even if you look at it that way, you still run into plenty of plot holes and inconsistencies (not to mention how unoriginal it feels, since there are so many better movies out there doing the exact same thing), but I really feel like the film only holds any actual value if you view it through that psychological lens, because if you try to watch it as straight realism, it honestly just becomes kind of ridiculous...
Oh, and... S P O I L E R > :-)
Edward Hernandez332 said:Can you walk me through that part? What exactly makes the characterization so terrible?
The rest of the critique actually makes sense to me, but personally, I don't think those points even matter for the film's main point.
Drew Wright5 said:Great... just what we needed. Another Janghwa rip-off hitting the shelves, though honestly, this one feels like a cheap, watered-down imitation compared to the original. 😛
Christian Hernandez92 said:I honestly just don't get how anyone can call this movie a masterpiece?!
It’s actually wild how so many people, even hardcore horror fans, hype this mediocre flick up and act like it belongs in the same league as the all-time greats...
The whole thing is just riddled with flaws, half-baked ideas, and total nonsense; the scenario biti pun rupa and full of logical gaps that basically insult the intelligence of any average viewer, and at times it gets so predictable and forced it’s almost impossible to sit through; all of that just creates this grating sense of disbelief that, for me, is pretty much the defining trait of this movie...
I’ll only mention a few things since it’s been a while since I watched it (and I had to watch it twice—once because I couldn't believe such a massive flop was getting so much praise)...
S P O I L E R !
The biggest issue, which the entire concept relies on, is the evolution part. Basically, you're supposed to buy that these "monsters" are actually humans who’ve been trapped in the dark, isolated in caves for years and evolved into a new kind of predator...
The movie claims they lost their sight, their hearing, and even their sense of touch. But somehow, none of that stops them from popping up on the surface every now and then to hunt animals that are way faster and more agile, creatures that have all their senses intact and are perfectly adapted to life on the surface and fighting off other predators. And despite all those trips to the surface, they always manage to stay totally undetected. You have to wonder how a creature that’s supposedly COMPLETELY incapable of living above ground would even handle it... Seeing all the animal bones the main characters find deep in the cave really makes you think these things are killing stuff on the surface quite successfully—the contrast is just insane...
Then there are moments in the movie that represent the absolute peak of zero logic: like how the "monsters" don't feel fire just inches away from them, meaning they can't see it or feel the heat, yet the fight scenes with the girls and the way they stalk and kill them suggest something COMPLETELY different about what these creatures are capable of; or when a monster holds its hand right on one of the girls' heads and doesn't notice her presence—not the body heat, the breathing, the torch burning right next to her—it's obvious... Despite everything mentioned, these "monsters" still act like perfect predators, jumping out of the shadows, walking on the ceiling (!!!!!!!), and hunting the girls with a level of skill that would require them to have fully developed senses, high intellect, and perfect motor skills... Just look at the scenes where they emerge from the darkness to hunt their "prey"—the main characters—and then compare that to the huge holes in the logic, and it's easy to see how inconsistent the whole idea is...
The absurdity, inconsistency, and, frankly, stupidity just keeps going: a girl travels from the UK to the US and, through no fault of her own, stumbles upon a brand-new cave system right next to a famous, well-mapped one that experts and researchers had already thoroughly explored; and that rockslide that blocks their ONLY exit is such a cliché, forced moment (which, weirdly enough, is CRUCIAL for the plot) that it actually made me want to gag... And regarding the theory of evolution—that process takes thousands of years. Given when America was discovered, we can only conclude these "monsters" are an exception to evolution, like some kind of crazy, super-fast evolutionary jump happened in those caves (which is actually my favorite little detail ;)).
I should also mention that this movie isn't just suffering from these kinds of errors and absurdities—I could go on FOREVER about the terrible character development, how it focuses on useless, trivial details instead of the actual plot, the shallow relationships between characters, the poorly defined motives, and so much more... but I won't. I think I've said enough about why this movie doesn't deserve its rating, highlighting just a fraction of its failures, and how it fails to scare or even make anyone think if they've ever seen more than three GOOD, coherent horror movies in their life...
P.S. And okay, here’s my hot take on the stuff most people get wrong—the idea that those "monsters" aren't even real, but are just some hallucination cooked up by > because her past, all those regrets, frustrations, and old wounds, is crashing head-first into this nightmare reality of constant darkness, claustrophobia, and being trapped with people who have their own dark histories and messy motives... to me, that’s honestly the only way to truly make sense of the movie, and it totally lines up with how I see it. Even if you look at it that way, you still run into plenty of plot holes and inconsistencies (not to mention how unoriginal it feels, since there are so many better movies out there doing the exact same thing), but I really feel like the film only holds any actual value if you view it through that psychological lens, because if you try to watch it as straight realism, it honestly just becomes kind of ridiculous...
Oh, and... S P O I L E R > :-)
wiredcyclist said:Go ahead then. Name me just one single movie that doesn't have at least one of those issues.
Christian Hernandez92 said:😲Oh my god... Let me put it this way... What I'm getting at is that a movie like The Descent—which people absolutely worship and treat like some kind of untouchable masterpiece or the "horror film of the decade"—is actually riddled with so much stupidity, total lack of logic, and zero actual tension, and so on and so on... and honestly, that's the only real "horror" part for me, just the idea that a movie can actually scare someone or give them an adrenaline rush when it’s fundamentally broken like that... 😁 The Descent is just so naive and lacks any real intelligence that it basically kills its own potential and ruins what the original idea could have been from the jump...
I feel like you see how pointless your question is too, because let's face it, every single movie has flaws, big or small, but nobody is out here crowning movies with massive holes like this as all-time classics...
But hey, if you actually want me to suggest some legit, smart horror movies that aren't falling apart at the seams and actually have some real quality to them 😉 it would be my pleasure. Like, check these out: High Tension (2003), Audition (1999), Let the Right One In (2008), Janghwa, Hongryeon (2003), The Spine (2001), Thesis (1996), Ju-on (2003), The Grudge (2004), Spiral (2000), Uzumaki (2000), Honogurai (2002), Begotten (1991), The Ring (1998), Shutter (2004), Alone (2007), The Eye (2002), Jacob's Ladder (1990), Dellamorte Dellamore (1994), Cemetery Man (1994), Hellraiser (1987), The Fog (1980), The Shining (1980), The Fly (1986), R-Point (2004), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Guinea Pig: Mermaid in the Manhole (1988), Guinea Pig: Flowers of Flesh and Blood (1985), Pulse (2001), The Orphanage (2007), [REC] (2007)... That's plenty for now...
Christian Hernandez92 said:😲Oh my god... Let me put it this way... What I'm getting at is that a movie like The Descent—which people absolutely worship and treat like some kind of untouchable masterpiece or the "horror film of the decade"—is actually riddled with so much stupidity, total lack of logic, and zero actual tension, and so on and so on... and honestly, that's the only real "horror" part for me, just the idea that a movie can actually scare someone or give them an adrenaline rush when it’s fundamentally broken like that... 😁 The Descent is just so naive and lacks any real intelligence that it basically kills its own potential and ruins what the original idea could have been from the jump...
I feel like you see how pointless your question is too, because let's face it, every single movie has flaws, big or small, but nobody is out here crowning movies with massive holes like this as all-time classics...
But hey, if you actually want me to suggest some legit, smart horror movies that aren't falling apart at the seams and actually have some real quality to them 😉 it would be my pleasure. Like, check these out: High Tension (2003), Audition (1999), Let the Right One In (2008), Janghwa, Hongryeon (2003), The Spine (2001), Thesis (1996), Ju-on (2003), The Grudge (2004), Spiral (2000), Uzumaki (2000), Honogurai (2002), Begotten (1991), The Ring (1998), Shutter (2004), Alone (2007), The Eye (2002), Jacob's Ladder (1990), Dellamorte Dellamore (1994), Cemetery Man (1994), Hellraiser (1987), The Fog (1980), The Shining (1980), The Fly (1986), R-Point (2004), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Guinea Pig: Mermaid in the Manhole (1988), Guinea Pig: Flowers of Flesh and Blood (1985), Pulse (2001), The Orphanage (2007), [REC] (2007)... That's plenty for now...
Edward Hernandez332 said:That is purely your opinion, and frankly, it runs contrary to what the vast majority thinks. Why don't you try reading the thread from the beginning to actually understand why everyone else finds the film brilliant? Or better yet, just type "The Descent review" into Google and prepare to be thoroughly embarrassed by how many acclaimed critics actually praise this movie.
wiredcyclist said:Look, the reality is that the vast majority of people loved this movie (myself included), while a tiny fraction of the audience, like you, didn't. Now, you seem determined to push your dissatisfaction onto the rest of us. What’s the saying? There's no accounting for taste. For me, this stands out as one of the better horror films out there because of its dark, suffocating atmosphere and its strange, unique story. The sets used to depict the underground feel incredibly realistic, which creates this visceral connection to the characters. And since they're women—something you rarely see centered in this genre—it makes the whole experience feel even more distinct. It packs everything a solid horror needs: plenty of blood, tension, and drama, all wrapped up perfectly. Plus, the sequel is coming soon.
Christian Hernandez92 said:Well, yeah, it's obviously just my opinion, I guess that goes without saying... But unlike a lot of people hanging out here, I try to look at things objectively and realistically, pointing out the pros and cons instead of just letting my own vibes and interpretations take over everything. It might be a good idea to actually read the previous posts and get the full picture before jumping to conclusions like that... And hey, just because someone shares their thoughts doesn't mean they're trying to force them down anyone's throat. Just some good-faith, constructive criticism—you feel me?
Don't put words in my mouth—I never said I didn't get why so many people dig this movie. No, no, and no... I just wasn't focusing on the good stuff because, honestly, I was too let down by it. This film was hyped up to me as the "greatest horror ever" and an "all-time classic," which it absolutely is not, and never could be...
Oh, right, the positives: the complexity, the layers, the stylistic touches like metaphors and allegories, the core concept, the pacing, the ending (the UK version, obviously🙂), and all that jazz.
So yeah, the movie definitely has its fair share of good elements. But the issue is that those strong points get completely undermined by a ton of flaws, some of which I already mentioned, so I won't repeat myself. At best, those gaps and mistakes just brutally distract you from the good parts of the coin...
Let me give you an example: one dimension of the film—the "real world" aspect—is totally wrecked by logical inconsistencies and absurdities, mostly regarding how those creatures in the dark behave, how they exist, how they survive, and all that stuff. Since most people experience the cave portion of this movie as "reality," and that's where the horror is supposed to hit, you have to ask yourself—how can such a poorly constructed idea, full of holes, contradictions, and total nonsense that breaks the whole logic of why these monsters are even scary, actually terrify anyone? And keep in mind, that's just the tip of the iceberg...
Critics? Pfft... I think if you look for counter-arguments, you can find much more intelligent takes than the crowd of people who get paid to either trash or worship something just because it's labeled "art"—or in this case, a movie...
Do you have any idea how many "renowned critics" praised I Am Legend, probably totally oblivious to the fact that the plot holes in that movie were massive enough to drive a truck through?🤣
Unlike you, I don't need some expert to tell me what's good or bad. My own head works just fine...😉
Christian Hernandez92 said:😲Oh my god... Let me put it this way... What I'm getting at is that a movie like The Descent—which people absolutely worship and treat like some kind of untouchable masterpiece or the "horror film of the decade"—is actually riddled with so much stupidity, total lack of logic, and zero actual tension, and so on and so on... and honestly, that's the only real "horror" part for me, just the idea that a movie can actually scare someone or give them an adrenaline rush when it’s fundamentally broken like that... 😁 The Descent is just so naive and lacks any real intelligence that it basically kills its own potential and ruins what the original idea could have been from the jump...
I feel like you see how pointless your question is too, because let's face it, every single movie has flaws, big or small, but nobody is out here crowning movies with massive holes like this as all-time classics...
But hey, if you actually want me to suggest some legit, smart horror movies that aren't falling apart at the seams and actually have some real quality to them 😉 it would be my pleasure. Like, check these out: High Tension (2003), Audition (1999), Let the Right One In (2008), Janghwa, Hongryeon (2003), The Spine (2001), Thesis (1996), Ju-on (2003), The Grudge (2004), Spiral (2000), Uzumaki (2000), Honogurai (2002), Begotten (1991), The Ring (1998), Shutter (2004), Alone (2007), The Eye (2002), Jacob's Ladder (1990), Dellamorte Dellamore (1994), Cemetery Man (1994), Hellraiser (1987), The Fog (1980), The Shining (1980), The Fly (1986), R-Point (2004), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Guinea Pig: Mermaid in the Manhole (1988), Guinea Pig: Flowers of Flesh and Blood (1985), Pulse (2001), The Orphanage (2007), [REC] (2007)... That's plenty for now...
quietdriver3 said:lol, I didn't mean to butt in but I just can't help myself... 😁 First, you went all out trying to tear The Descent apart with this logic like you're David Attenborough narrating a documentary about bottom-feeding fish, and then you follow that up with this... honestly, you kind of nuked your own credibility there, because High Tension is basically one massive logical black hole.🙄
