The Descent

Screening on 35mm!

“As a chronic horror junkie since childhood, there have only ever been a few films that have scarred me. Films like Alien, The Grudge, The Ring, and Dark Skies have all cemented themselves as pillars in the pantheon of my childhood trauma films. A special pillar is erected for the Spongebob Squarepants episode “I had an Accident” from season 3. That Gorilla suit scared the shit out of me. 

However, all of these pieces of media were merely paper cuts against my fear response. If The Ring, The Grudge, and, yes, even Spongebob, just broke skin, then Neil Marshall’s THE DESCENT was a full on bloody laceration. This film is single handedly the reason I refuse to step a single foot into a cave. Nothing in those damn caves is even remotely worth the risk if THE DESCENT is anything to go off of. 

Bloody and claustrophobic, Neil Marshall crafted a horrific creature feature with the tight tension of a taught climbing rope slowly descending into the depths of a rocky cavern. With stellar performances from the lead actors Shauna Macdonald and Natalie Mendoza, playing Sarah and Juno respectively. Much like a prehistoric cave painting, this 2005 spelunking masterpiece has been etched deeply into my psyche. One of the best horror films ever made, it is a must watch for any horror fan. 

Grab your chalk, climbing picks, headlamps, and glowsticks and join us as we make the strenuous trek through the Appalachian cave systems in beautiful 35mm glory.” –Staff Pick by Andrew Pankey, usher

Screening as part of our Staff Picks 2025 series