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Descent, The (2005) Rank 3 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give Descent, The (2005) a score of 3.0352 out of 4
based on (132) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Excellent
4
Excellent
(34)
Very Good
3
Very Good
(83)
Good
2
Good
(14)
Fair
1
Fair
(1)
Poor
0
Poor
(0)
Reviews by Score:
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.37 out of 4 stars for Orlando Weekly (Ian Grey)Orlando Weekly (Ian Grey)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Orlando Weekly (Ian Grey)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.32 out of 4 stars for Baltimore Sun (Chris Kaltenbach)Baltimore Sun (Chris Kaltenbach)
The most exhilaratingly horrifying movie to come out in years. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Baltimore Sun (Chris Kaltenbach)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.32 out of 4 stars for The Onion A.V. ClubThe Onion A.V. Club
...read the complete Descent movie review at The Onion A.V. Club
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Bloody-DistgustingBloody-Distgusting
The last ten years or so have seen Marshall on a long and winding road, leading him from the editing booth in 1994 for the TV movie ‘Driven’ through to Luxembourg for the filming of ‘Dog Soldiers’ and now with ‘The ...read the complete Descent movie review at Bloody-Distgusting
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Bloody-DistgustingBloody-Distgusting
...read the complete Descent movie review at Bloody-Distgusting
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for The Movie ChicksThe Movie Chicks
Sarah (Shauna Macdonald), Beth (Alex Reid), and Juno (Natalie Jackson Mendoza) are girlfriends who have spent years together living on the edge - Juno, especially, likes adventures that have a little risk involved. Sarah doesn't spend as much time ...read the complete Descent movie review at The Movie Chicks
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
The Descent, the new blood-soaked frightfest by acclaimed British horror auteur Neill Marshall, is when the main character, a recently widowed young woman named Sarah (Shauna Macdonald), gets stuck in a narrow crawlway deep underground. There are no ...read the complete Descent movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for DVDActive (Gabriel Powers)DVDActive (Gabriel Powers)
Some British magazines have slightly over-praised this film, even calling it one of the best horror films of all time. I’m going to disagree with these exaggerated analyses, but still strongly recommend the film, especially to horror genre fans. ...read the complete Descent movie review at DVDActive (Gabriel Powers)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.23 out of 4 stars for Monsters At Play (Lawrence P. Raffel)Monsters At Play (Lawrence P. Raffel)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Monsters At Play (Lawrence P. Raffel)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Empire Magazine [UK]Empire Magazine [UK]
Brutal, bloody, terrifying, astonishing... And so tense it'll leave you aching. The most significant Brit chiller since 28 Days Later. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Empire Magazine [UK]
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.05 out of 4 stars for The Trades (Ted Porter)The Trades (Ted Porter)
...read the complete Descent movie review at The Trades (Ted Porter)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.02 out of 4 stars for Haro OnlineHaro Online
...read the complete Descent movie review at Haro Online
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.01 out of 4 stars for Juicy Cerebellum (Alex Sandell)Juicy Cerebellum (Alex Sandell)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Juicy Cerebellum (Alex Sandell)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Cinema Source (Ryan Piccirillo)The Cinema Source (Ryan Piccirillo)
Without exaggeration, my friend never has more than $10 on him whenever we go out. Why is that? Well, he's a claustrophobic. It's not very expensive to get around the city, unless of course you have an irrational fear of confined spaces. Getting on a ...read the complete Descent movie review at The Cinema Source (Ryan Piccirillo)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Boston GlobeBoston Globe
``The Descent" is a new British horror movie that leaves us exactly where we want to be at a film about six women stranded in a cave several miles underground -- afraid of how in the dark we are, literally and otherwise. It all begins with a lack of ...read the complete Descent movie review at Boston Globe
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for New York Post (Lou Lumenick)New York Post (Lou Lumenick)
Easily the summer's scariest movie. ...read the complete Descent movie review at New York Post (Lou Lumenick)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
A cult classic is born. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Prepare to be scared senseless, and then, when you think you have it figured, your certainty will be shaken by scenes built to scare you even more. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Cinema Source (Ryan Piccirillo)The Cinema Source (Ryan Piccirillo)
...read the complete Descent movie review at The Cinema Source (Ryan Piccirillo)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Cinema Signals by The Filmiliar CineasteCinema Signals by The Filmiliar Cineaste
...read the complete Descent movie review at Cinema Signals by The Filmiliar Cineaste
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
In 2002, Neil Marshall wrote and directed a cult horror flick called Dog Soldiers, which featured a group of men alone in the Scottish wilderness meeting and eventually fighting for their lives with a frightening menace not thought to be of this earth. No ...read the complete Descent movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
This is one of the scariest movies featuring female heroines since the "Alien" series, and what makes it uniquely scary is where these women are -- in tunnels two miles under ground -- when they realize they are not alone. ...read the complete Descent movie review at New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
This is a horror film that is pretty much by the book, with a few wrinkles. It is no masterpiece, but it is very well crafted, with some effective "gotcha" moments. There is a lot of blood and gore, of course, but that is to be expected in this genre. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
If you're going to have any fun with "The Descent" you're going to need to buy the premise: six thrill-seeking British women get together for a wee spot of spelunking and quickly find themselves trapped deep underground where someone or something may be ...read the complete Descent movie review at Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
Is The Descent the horror film to beat for the foreseeable future? That depends, I suppose, on a number of things, not the least of which is how horrific you find the notion of watching a sextet of city folk take to the Great Outdoors without benefit of ...read the complete Descent movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Based on Neil Marshall's previous film, the derivative Dog Soldiers, I wasn't expecting much from his follow-up. But The Descent is very simply the scariest film I've seen in years (since Pulse). In the simple set-up, six young women, including Nora-Jane ...read the complete Descent movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
At the heart of the film, beyond the human/crawler conflict, is the suppressed tension between Sarah and Juno. That Marshall bothered to include such a fillip sets him apart from run-of-the-mill scaremongers; it makes me want to see what else he's done ...read the complete Descent movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Dallas Morning NewsThe Dallas Morning News
What Mr. Marshall's saying about humanity is uncertain. Maybe that the troglodytes deserve to inherit the earth. Or maybe: Watch your back when you and your friends encounter vicious meat-eaters in enclosed spaces. ...read the complete Descent movie review at The Dallas Morning News
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Bucket Reviews (Danny Baldwin)Bucket Reviews (Danny Baldwin)
I recall watching Alexendre Aja's The Hills Have Eyes on DVD just a few weeks ago and thinking to myself "what was the point of that?" The self-proclaimed "horror" film was horrifying in that, as a viewer, I would never want to see happen to myself what ...read the complete Descent movie review at Bucket Reviews (Danny Baldwin)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Tail Slate (Douglas Strassler)Tail Slate (Douglas Strassler)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Tail Slate (Douglas Strassler)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Milwaukee Journal-SentinelThe Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
But "The Descent" multiplies the genre's woman in jeopardy scenario by a factor of six. They are a spelunking sextet of spandex-clad extreme sportswomen whose exploration of an uncharted cave system takes them off the grid and deeper and deeper into ...read the complete Descent movie review at The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)
For those who like their horror served straight up with no ironic chaser, The Descent is a tasty cup of torment. ...read the complete Descent movie review at The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Hartlaub)San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Hartlaub)
Marshall takes a modest budget and a concept that isn't all that original and produces a frightening, intelligent and sexy thriller. ...read the complete Descent movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Hartlaub)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Philadelphia Inquirer (Tirdad Derakhshani)Philadelphia Inquirer (Tirdad Derakhshani)
Amid this unrelenting ferocity, Marshall gives his characters emotional depth, and elicits terrific performances from the cast. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Tirdad Derakhshani)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
This one is a creepy white-knuckle excursion into horror, where even the "boo!" moments are so well developed that they cause a jolt. ...read the complete Descent movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Premiere (Kelly Borgeson)Premiere (Kelly Borgeson)
The Descent is bloody, disturbing, and genuinely frightening--you'll be very happy to leave that dark theater. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Premiere (Kelly Borgeson)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.95 out of 4 stars for Fulvue Drive-inFulvue Drive-in
...read the complete Descent movie review at Fulvue Drive-in
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.95 out of 4 stars for Film Monthly (Tony Licardello)Film Monthly (Tony Licardello)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Film Monthly (Tony Licardello)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.91 out of 4 stars for Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.90 out of 4 stars for The Arizona Republic The Arizona Republic
...read the complete Descent movie review at The Arizona Republic
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.88 out of 4 stars for Film 247.net Film 247.net
...read the complete Descent movie review at Film 247.net
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.86 out of 4 stars for www.european-films.net (Boyd van Hoeij)www.european-films.net (Boyd van Hoeij)
...read the complete Descent movie review at www.european-films.net (Boyd van Hoeij)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.86 out of 4 stars for Premiere MagazinePremiere Magazine
...read the complete Descent movie review at Premiere Magazine
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.86 out of 4 stars for iF MagazineiF Magazine
...read the complete Descent movie review at iF Magazine
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.86 out of 4 stars for Premiere MagazinePremiere Magazine
...read the complete Descent movie review at Premiere Magazine
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.85 out of 4 stars for RevolutionSF (Laura Eldred)RevolutionSF (Laura Eldred)
...read the complete Descent movie review at RevolutionSF (Laura Eldred)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.84 out of 4 stars for Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.83 out of 4 stars for Comingsoon.netComingsoon.net
...read the complete Descent movie review at Comingsoon.net
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.83 out of 4 stars for filmdeculte.com (Robert Hospyan)filmdeculte.com (Robert Hospyan)
...read the complete Descent movie review at filmdeculte.com (Robert Hospyan)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.82 out of 4 stars for Frank's Reel ReviewsFrank's Reel Reviews
...read the complete Descent movie review at Frank's Reel Reviews
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.82 out of 4 stars for Sun Newspapers of Cleveland Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
...read the complete Descent movie review at Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.82 out of 4 stars for Movie-Vault.com (Mel Valentin)Movie-Vault.com (Mel Valentin)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Movie-Vault.com (Mel Valentin)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Deseret News, Salt Lake City Deseret News, Salt Lake City
...read the complete Descent movie review at Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)
While the women's battle with the cave creatures has fine jump-from-your-seat moments, it gradually becomes the same chase flick horror fans have seen dozens of times. OK, it's a darn good one in most respects. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)
Marshall keeps the film lean and focused. He does have a nice taste for horror imagery. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Film Threat (Jeremy Knox)Film Threat (Jeremy Knox)
All in all, this is an accessible art house horror film whose trailer and premise do not do justice to the end result. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Film Threat (Jeremy Knox)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Variety (Derek Elley)Variety (Derek Elley)
The chills and spills keep comin' to agreeable effect in Brit-made scarefest The Descent. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Variety (Derek Elley)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Village Voice (Rob Nelson)Village Voice (Rob Nelson)
In the great B tradition, Marshall gets a lot out of nothing. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Village Voice (Rob Nelson)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for BBC FilmsBBC Films
...read the complete Descent movie review at BBC Films
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for The New York Times (Manohla Dargis)The New York Times (Manohla Dargis)
What follows is a sensationally entertaining escalation of frights, the kind that make you wiggle and squirm as you alternately laugh at your own gullibility and marvel at the filmmaker's cunning and craft. ...read the complete Descent movie review at The New York Times (Manohla Dargis)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.78 out of 4 stars for Exclaim!Exclaim!
...read the complete Descent movie review at Exclaim!
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.78 out of 4 stars for The Spinning Image (Daniel Auty)The Spinning Image (Daniel Auty)
...read the complete Descent movie review at The Spinning Image (Daniel Auty)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.76 out of 4 stars for Blackfilm.comBlackfilm.com
...read the complete Descent movie review at Blackfilm.com
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.76 out of 4 stars for hoopla.nuhoopla.nu
...read the complete Descent movie review at hoopla.nu
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.73 out of 4 stars for New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
...read the complete Descent movie review at New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.73 out of 4 stars for Film Fortress (Colin Le Sueur)Film Fortress (Colin Le Sueur)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Film Fortress (Colin Le Sueur)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.71 out of 4 stars for Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.70 out of 4 stars for St. Louis Post-DispatchSt. Louis Post-Dispatch
...read the complete Descent movie review at St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.70 out of 4 stars for Time OutTime Out
...read the complete Descent movie review at Time Out
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.68 out of 4 stars for Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
The Descent may not be everything you've heard, but man, it's also a lot of things you haven't. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.66 out of 4 stars for Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
...read the complete Descent movie review at Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.65 out of 4 stars for Moviepie.comMoviepie.com
...read the complete Descent movie review at Moviepie.com
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.64 out of 4 stars for Plugged InPlugged In
...read the complete Descent movie review at Plugged In
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.64 out of 4 stars for Mike D'AngeloMike D'Angelo
...read the complete Descent movie review at Mike D'Angelo
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.63 out of 4 stars for MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
...read the complete Descent movie review at MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.62 out of 4 stars for CineScene.com (Ed Owens)CineScene.com (Ed Owens)
...read the complete Descent movie review at CineScene.com (Ed Owens)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.61 out of 4 stars for Cinema BlendCinema Blend
...read the complete Descent movie review at Cinema Blend
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.61 out of 4 stars for Classic HorrorClassic Horror
...read the complete Descent movie review at Classic Horror
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.54 out of 4 stars for reVisionreVision
...read the complete Descent movie review at reVision
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.52 out of 4 stars for BBC FilmsBBC Films
...read the complete Descent movie review at BBC Films
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.52 out of 4 stars for Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Eventually, though, the monsters come out -- blind, snarling cave-dwellers, looking much like Gollum's bigger kin -- and The Descent becomes a simple exercise in guessing who, if anyone, will survive. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.52 out of 4 stars for Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
You either go for a movie like this or you don't. But though I didn't like it much, I've got to admit that The Descent is a nerve-jangler. ...read the complete Descent movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Descent, The (2005) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for kvikmyndir.comkvikmyndir.com
...read the complete Descent movie review at kvikmyndir.com
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Users combined give Descent, The (2005) a score of 1.000000 out of 4
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2.00
A good horror movie that stomps the competition
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by cory on February 23, 2009 Ogden, Utah
With so many bland generic horror films to come out in the past few years, I avoided watching this one. However, I finally gave it a chance after reading some raving reviews, I gave in and took the descent. Parts of the film are typical to vampire ...
0.00
Just a bad movie
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by Tetramobile on July 17, 2009 New York, New York
I don't know why people love this movie. I think it's because they think it's an indie film and they need to get behind this. True, it's an indie film, but it's also a horrible film. I was so bored watching it. Just not ...
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Movie Reviews: Adventure
Descent, The (2005) Reviews
Descent, The (2005)

RANKINGS:

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Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
3.0640
Descent, The (2005) is ranked overall as out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
3.0352
Descent, The (2005) is ranked overall as out of 4 stars
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