Truth is, that's all one needs to say about this low-budget suspenser about a group of spelunkers and scientists following a mysterious passage deep into the earth, long hidden beneath an ancient church in Romania. They quickly run into malformed creatures that exist only in the darkness, and get picked off one by one as they race to find a way out. The creatures are not as scary as the ones in "Pitch Black" or even "The Relic." There is a much better movie buried here (pun intended) involving some very tense and exciting sequences as the spelunkers work their way through various caves and passageways and waterways, and climb up and down steep rock walls. But the clichéd monster movie keeps getting in the way. And in the end, it doesn't help that each character is a walking cliché seemingly right out of "The Core." I would gladly watch "The Cave" a second time, but only for the cave exploration scenes. The ending has a nice, slightly twisty touch.
356 Reviews
Not nearly as bad as everyone says. Just a fun popcorn flick
nickdove5 December 2005
I went into this movie expecting just your average creature feature akin to Pitch Black, and I wasn't let down. It is, indeed, just your average creature feature. It's not the next best thing to Aliens, but it's not the travesty most reviewers here are making it out to be either.
The Cave is a fun popcorn flick. There's no really deep plot or amazing acting talent. What this movie does have is a few very intense, suspenseful moments, which is only aided by the very dark and claustrophobic atmosphere of the cave. It also has your average thriller twist at the end which I did not see coming.
The cinematography and directing by first-timer Bruce Hunt is surprisingly well done. His background as assistance director for the Matrix films and Dark City is apparent here. While he's no Spielberg or Cameron, he keeps the camera angles interesting, and there are scenes within vast, tall rooms in the cave that are quite breathtaking. One complaint, however, is that he chose to follow other directors mistakes in jarring the camera in a very frenetic and sickening manner back and forth whenever one of the characters is being attacked by the creature. This is not only very annoying and disorienting, but is IMO just a trick to cover up the poor creature fx.
Speaking of the FX, I have to say I'm 50/50 here. Sometimes they looked good, and sometimes they looked like they were from a Sci-Fi Channel original movie. The creature effects that looked good were the closeups, which utilized real models. These looked quite realistic. But far away shots of the CGI creatures are not so impressive.
If you want to sit down on a Friday night and just have fun, then pick up The Cave.
The Cave is a fun popcorn flick. There's no really deep plot or amazing acting talent. What this movie does have is a few very intense, suspenseful moments, which is only aided by the very dark and claustrophobic atmosphere of the cave. It also has your average thriller twist at the end which I did not see coming.
The cinematography and directing by first-timer Bruce Hunt is surprisingly well done. His background as assistance director for the Matrix films and Dark City is apparent here. While he's no Spielberg or Cameron, he keeps the camera angles interesting, and there are scenes within vast, tall rooms in the cave that are quite breathtaking. One complaint, however, is that he chose to follow other directors mistakes in jarring the camera in a very frenetic and sickening manner back and forth whenever one of the characters is being attacked by the creature. This is not only very annoying and disorienting, but is IMO just a trick to cover up the poor creature fx.
Speaking of the FX, I have to say I'm 50/50 here. Sometimes they looked good, and sometimes they looked like they were from a Sci-Fi Channel original movie. The creature effects that looked good were the closeups, which utilized real models. These looked quite realistic. But far away shots of the CGI creatures are not so impressive.
If you want to sit down on a Friday night and just have fun, then pick up The Cave.
A great start gets lost once the movie goes underground.
dbborroughs3 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The opening sequence with a group of men breaking into an old monastery is wonderful. Weird forms in the walls and floors promise that the place has been guarding some terrible secret. Unfortunately an avalanche/earthquake destroys the building and send the men into a deep dark cave where there are monsters. Some years later the ruins are being excavated and the cave is discovered. Its so big that there might be something there, especially since there appears to be a river of some sort that runs a hundred miles underground. A team of specialists is brought in and soon everyone is trapped underground and underwater, including the beasts.
For the early portion of this movie I was a bit confused by the critical drubbing that this movie took. Sure it wasn't the best movie ever, but it wasn't that bad. Unfortunately as time went on I began to get very lost, I got to the point where I wasn't sure what I was seeing. The problem is that the film is very dark and its often filmed in tight shots that re-enforce the claustrophobic nature of where the cast is suppose to be. Worse everyone in the cast blends together so once everyone got underground and in similar wet suits I had no idea who anyone was except there was a blonde girl, a brunette girl, an old guy, a black guy, a Japanese guy, and a bunch of white guys. The combination of the dark confused camera work with the clone like cast had me rapidly lose interest because I had no idea what was going on or who anyone was. I got to the point where I stopped caring. To be honest I got lost as to what was going on and stuck with it just to see the monsters.
Its a shame the film making isn't better or more coherent since the monsters are mostly quite good. These beasts are what makes the movie worth seeing. Sure there are some that look like rubber toys but some of the big guys look absolutely stunning. They are destined to become legends once the movie hits home video.(I can see the toys now) Should you see this? If you like great monsters yes, you'll want to see this. If like horror movies, you can give it a try, but understand its just an okay horror movie, not anything more. If you want a great movie find something else.
For the early portion of this movie I was a bit confused by the critical drubbing that this movie took. Sure it wasn't the best movie ever, but it wasn't that bad. Unfortunately as time went on I began to get very lost, I got to the point where I wasn't sure what I was seeing. The problem is that the film is very dark and its often filmed in tight shots that re-enforce the claustrophobic nature of where the cast is suppose to be. Worse everyone in the cast blends together so once everyone got underground and in similar wet suits I had no idea who anyone was except there was a blonde girl, a brunette girl, an old guy, a black guy, a Japanese guy, and a bunch of white guys. The combination of the dark confused camera work with the clone like cast had me rapidly lose interest because I had no idea what was going on or who anyone was. I got to the point where I stopped caring. To be honest I got lost as to what was going on and stuck with it just to see the monsters.
Its a shame the film making isn't better or more coherent since the monsters are mostly quite good. These beasts are what makes the movie worth seeing. Sure there are some that look like rubber toys but some of the big guys look absolutely stunning. They are destined to become legends once the movie hits home video.(I can see the toys now) Should you see this? If you like great monsters yes, you'll want to see this. If like horror movies, you can give it a try, but understand its just an okay horror movie, not anything more. If you want a great movie find something else.
Into The Nether World
Lechuguilla26 August 2005
What differentiates "The Cave" from other horror films is the setting. The plot takes place mostly in a large cave, some of which is underwater.
By far, the best element of this film is the underground scenery. The sets are realistic, with spaces and formations that one might see in certain large caverns. And, the film nicely conveys a sense of vertical scale, as we watch cavers climb rock walls, and explore huge rooms with towering ceilings.
The problem here is that the film's director is so committed to an action plot that the camera rarely stays in one scene long enough for the viewer to have a sense of place. We thus forgo the thrill that an underground environment could provide. There's no feeling of amazement, no claustrophobia from tight crawlways, no real fear of any kind. The film's fast pace, combined with characters we barely know and care nothing about, thus dilutes the intended suspense.
The cinematography is flashy and very technical. The lighting is appropriately subdued with interesting colors and unusual camera angles. The background music is somewhat intrusive. Dialogue is weak. And the actors, who appear to be in their twenties, are all photogenic, straight out of central casting. The monsters, what we see of them, seem slightly hokey.
Overall, "The Cave" will appeal to viewers who like horror films set in unusual environments, wherein the pace is super fast, and there is a ton of action. Viewers looking for a credible story will need to exit the cave ... quickly.
By far, the best element of this film is the underground scenery. The sets are realistic, with spaces and formations that one might see in certain large caverns. And, the film nicely conveys a sense of vertical scale, as we watch cavers climb rock walls, and explore huge rooms with towering ceilings.
The problem here is that the film's director is so committed to an action plot that the camera rarely stays in one scene long enough for the viewer to have a sense of place. We thus forgo the thrill that an underground environment could provide. There's no feeling of amazement, no claustrophobia from tight crawlways, no real fear of any kind. The film's fast pace, combined with characters we barely know and care nothing about, thus dilutes the intended suspense.
The cinematography is flashy and very technical. The lighting is appropriately subdued with interesting colors and unusual camera angles. The background music is somewhat intrusive. Dialogue is weak. And the actors, who appear to be in their twenties, are all photogenic, straight out of central casting. The monsters, what we see of them, seem slightly hokey.
Overall, "The Cave" will appeal to viewers who like horror films set in unusual environments, wherein the pace is super fast, and there is a ton of action. Viewers looking for a credible story will need to exit the cave ... quickly.
Would've been better WITHOUT the creatures!
Rvrgm28 August 2005
I give it an average "5" because it's an average movie. Not really bad, not really good. Just not really ANYTHING. It just sat there and didn't really do anything. As a "man against the elements" movie, it was at least interesting. As a "creature feature," it was completely dull and unoriginal. The characters were one-dimensional - you wouldn't care about any of them.
Rather than letting us spend the time with these characters to learn how and why they are so close-knit, the script writer simply had one of the characters say, "We're like a family." - OK, if you say so . . . then why does no one in the group shed a single tear when people start dying? Characters move from death scene to death scene as if they are just losing casual acquaintances - but wait, she said "they are like a family." OH, I get it - because most family members can't stand each other - OK, now it makes sense! Anyway - if they had lost the monsters, gotten some better actors and a better script, and simply made a movie about cave divers lost underground having to band together to get out, this might have been a decent movie. As it is, the "escape the cave" element is never really richly developed, and instead the focus seems to be on "scaring" you, which it never does, or "wowing" you with action and effects, which it CERTAINLY never does.
In the end, a wasted opportunity, with the only redeeming feature being the nice sets and photography. Wait till it comes to cable, dudes!
Rather than letting us spend the time with these characters to learn how and why they are so close-knit, the script writer simply had one of the characters say, "We're like a family." - OK, if you say so . . . then why does no one in the group shed a single tear when people start dying? Characters move from death scene to death scene as if they are just losing casual acquaintances - but wait, she said "they are like a family." OH, I get it - because most family members can't stand each other - OK, now it makes sense! Anyway - if they had lost the monsters, gotten some better actors and a better script, and simply made a movie about cave divers lost underground having to band together to get out, this might have been a decent movie. As it is, the "escape the cave" element is never really richly developed, and instead the focus seems to be on "scaring" you, which it never does, or "wowing" you with action and effects, which it CERTAINLY never does.
In the end, a wasted opportunity, with the only redeeming feature being the nice sets and photography. Wait till it comes to cable, dudes!
Worth watching on television, I wouldn't buy it though.
Tweekums4 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I'd heard that this film wasn't great but decided to give it a go when it was on television; while it wasn't great it wasn't terrible either. To enjoy it don't go in expecting a horror film but treat it as an action-adventure film, after all it is only a 12 certificate.
The follows a group of explorers as they investigate a cave system found under a ruined church deep in the Carpathian mountains. As much of the system is flooded we get to see plenty of underwater action as well as climbing and crawling through tight spaces. Rather too soon after entering the cave they discover that they are not alone in the cave as there are strange creatures in there with them. When examined these creatures turn out to all contain a parasite that seems to cause them to mutate. One of their party is attacked and causes an explosion that blocks the way back forcing them to move deeper and deeper into the cave to try to find an alternative way out. Inevitably they end up fighting more creatures as they go and when the group's leader is injured he is infected by the parasite and as it starts to effect him he must struggle to keep control of himself.
The under ground scenes look impressive for the most part if a little too well lit. There are quite a few inconsistencies along the way; one moment they are swimming though water the next they are out climbing down ice and the next they are in another cavern which is full of flames due to burning methane.
The acting wasn't bad,the monster effects were pretty good and the underwater scenes were great, it is just a pity it didn't have more scares. It is also a shame that it was released at the same time as "The Descent", a much scarier film also set in a cave. I'd only recommend this to younger viewers or if there was nothing better on television.
The follows a group of explorers as they investigate a cave system found under a ruined church deep in the Carpathian mountains. As much of the system is flooded we get to see plenty of underwater action as well as climbing and crawling through tight spaces. Rather too soon after entering the cave they discover that they are not alone in the cave as there are strange creatures in there with them. When examined these creatures turn out to all contain a parasite that seems to cause them to mutate. One of their party is attacked and causes an explosion that blocks the way back forcing them to move deeper and deeper into the cave to try to find an alternative way out. Inevitably they end up fighting more creatures as they go and when the group's leader is injured he is infected by the parasite and as it starts to effect him he must struggle to keep control of himself.
The under ground scenes look impressive for the most part if a little too well lit. There are quite a few inconsistencies along the way; one moment they are swimming though water the next they are out climbing down ice and the next they are in another cavern which is full of flames due to burning methane.
The acting wasn't bad,the monster effects were pretty good and the underwater scenes were great, it is just a pity it didn't have more scares. It is also a shame that it was released at the same time as "The Descent", a much scarier film also set in a cave. I'd only recommend this to younger viewers or if there was nothing better on television.
the film stays buried in the cave
dromasca4 March 2006
The scariest thing about this horror movie is that the end alludes to a sequel. 'The Cave' is really a disappointing action movie. A team of cave and undersea researchers go to Romania (one of these inexpensive places to make a movie, for now at least) and following a destroyed church enter in a cave that proves to be a realm of underground monsters. Or are they daemons? The movie never decides if it wants to be action, science fiction, or horror, it is a mix of all without salt or fun, and acted in a wooden manner. The best thing about the movie is the cinematography, but even the dark landscape of the cave becomes soon boring, because the film lacks pace and the characters are simply not interesting. Waste of time.
Did anyone notice this interesting prop?
ultrabastard16 September 2006
Two things - one: this film is nowhere near as bad as some say. Of course, that doesn't make it good, but I enjoyed it.
Second - the prop used to show the strength of communications signal when the first scout explores the cave system is in fact a silver Korg guitar tuner! Not worth mentioning usually except that it is shown in close up several times during this sequence, with the row of red lights normally used to show how close to the note the guitar string is representing here the strength of the signal from the first scout diver...
You can freeze the DVD on one of the closeups to see the words "Cents" and "Hz" and the note names E A D G B E written on the tuner. Classic.
Now that's what I call cheap props for an expensive film. Incidentally, the Korg tuners are very good - at tuning guitars.
Second - the prop used to show the strength of communications signal when the first scout explores the cave system is in fact a silver Korg guitar tuner! Not worth mentioning usually except that it is shown in close up several times during this sequence, with the row of red lights normally used to show how close to the note the guitar string is representing here the strength of the signal from the first scout diver...
You can freeze the DVD on one of the closeups to see the words "Cents" and "Hz" and the note names E A D G B E written on the tuner. Classic.
Now that's what I call cheap props for an expensive film. Incidentally, the Korg tuners are very good - at tuning guitars.
Bland, cookie-cutter film-making
Leofwine_draca23 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Oh dear. Back in 2005, two potholing horrors came out at the same time. Both involved teams descending into underground cave networks and discovering previously unknown creatures with a penchant for human flesh. THE DESCENT, a British film helmed by Neil Marshall, was a film I enjoyed very much and would probably watch again. THE CAVE, on the other hand, is a typical US horror that does everything wrong. Not only does it have a child-friendly rating, meaning it lacks the viciousness a movie like this cries out for, but it's happy to tread the same old ground without making any effort, delivering a film that's heavily inspired by creature classics like ALIENS and even PITCH BLACK and being instantly forgettable in the same breath.
Right from the start I knew this was going to be bad, thanks to the jerky, frenetic camera-work that takes place during the action sequences. Now, ALL of these take place in dimly-lit caverns which are hard enough to see in as it is, so why did the director feel the need to make things harder to watch with his jerky camera-work? Another cliché that doesn't work. Sadly, though, the bad camera-work doesn't stop us seeing the APPALLING creatures, which are CGI monstrosities for the most part, with the occasional use of a model head that looks just like an ALIEN. No thought or imagination seems to have gone into these beasts at all.
The script is dire, the cast boring. Even Cole Hauser, who has the most interesting role of a guy gradually transforming into a beast, comes off the worse as his sub-plot goes nowhere (I guess the filmmakers were trying to inject some menace). Eddie Cibrian has the right macho hero look about him, but he comes across as wooden, and the only cast-member I liked at all was Lena Headey (300), who actually has a little integrity (until the stupid twist ending, that is). Watch out for the gratuitous cleavage shot the director threw in in an attempt to draw the male audience. Morris Chestnut and Daniel Dae Kim are the ethnic types thrown into the mix for no good reason and totally underused.
I'm not even angry enough to care about this film. THE CAVE is one of those ones where your attention keeps wandering despite your best efforts and the end result is that I had no emotion about it whatsoever. Just a bland, cookie-cutter horror outing for the masses, and one that misses the point totally.
Right from the start I knew this was going to be bad, thanks to the jerky, frenetic camera-work that takes place during the action sequences. Now, ALL of these take place in dimly-lit caverns which are hard enough to see in as it is, so why did the director feel the need to make things harder to watch with his jerky camera-work? Another cliché that doesn't work. Sadly, though, the bad camera-work doesn't stop us seeing the APPALLING creatures, which are CGI monstrosities for the most part, with the occasional use of a model head that looks just like an ALIEN. No thought or imagination seems to have gone into these beasts at all.
The script is dire, the cast boring. Even Cole Hauser, who has the most interesting role of a guy gradually transforming into a beast, comes off the worse as his sub-plot goes nowhere (I guess the filmmakers were trying to inject some menace). Eddie Cibrian has the right macho hero look about him, but he comes across as wooden, and the only cast-member I liked at all was Lena Headey (300), who actually has a little integrity (until the stupid twist ending, that is). Watch out for the gratuitous cleavage shot the director threw in in an attempt to draw the male audience. Morris Chestnut and Daniel Dae Kim are the ethnic types thrown into the mix for no good reason and totally underused.
I'm not even angry enough to care about this film. THE CAVE is one of those ones where your attention keeps wandering despite your best efforts and the end result is that I had no emotion about it whatsoever. Just a bland, cookie-cutter horror outing for the masses, and one that misses the point totally.
average creature flick
mkivtt28 August 2005
This wasn't a bad movie if you like creature flicks. It isn't original, but it does nothing badly and is interesting enough to spend 1.5 hours with.
Firstly: why is it that the entire team consists of hunks and babes? Even the scientists are good looking chicks. Oh well, we'll just have to suspend our thinking and just accept that actors have to be good looking these days, even if their roles completely rule out looking like a supermodel.
As for the movie itself: the action, plot (if there is any to speak of), effects and direction are OK, as is the acting.. Once again, nothing special, novel or interesting but not bad either. The editing was decent except for the action shots. Why does every editor and/or director think that they are doing an MTV clip these days? Keep the camera still! If you think I can see what's going on in random .3 second bursts of film, you're wrong. So irritating.
The effects are OK. Although at times the caves are lit in ways that are impossible for the little flashlights to accomplish, the set is generally dark enough to be realistic. The caves look real. The monsters are not that good but they are almost never shown completely, and in doing so they are acceptable. I do wish the movie had more gore though. Being, as almost all horror movies these days, PG-13 to cash in on teenage kids' money, it does not show any gore besides some scratches and some ugly but very brief ceature shots.
Final comment: I wish the movie had revolved around the first cave expedition that is shown during the introduction titles. They seemed a hell of a lot more interesting than that group of supermodels who came in later. Real men, real people, driven by greed. Oh well.
Decent action, decent thrills. Not bad to kill some time with.
Firstly: why is it that the entire team consists of hunks and babes? Even the scientists are good looking chicks. Oh well, we'll just have to suspend our thinking and just accept that actors have to be good looking these days, even if their roles completely rule out looking like a supermodel.
As for the movie itself: the action, plot (if there is any to speak of), effects and direction are OK, as is the acting.. Once again, nothing special, novel or interesting but not bad either. The editing was decent except for the action shots. Why does every editor and/or director think that they are doing an MTV clip these days? Keep the camera still! If you think I can see what's going on in random .3 second bursts of film, you're wrong. So irritating.
The effects are OK. Although at times the caves are lit in ways that are impossible for the little flashlights to accomplish, the set is generally dark enough to be realistic. The caves look real. The monsters are not that good but they are almost never shown completely, and in doing so they are acceptable. I do wish the movie had more gore though. Being, as almost all horror movies these days, PG-13 to cash in on teenage kids' money, it does not show any gore besides some scratches and some ugly but very brief ceature shots.
Final comment: I wish the movie had revolved around the first cave expedition that is shown during the introduction titles. They seemed a hell of a lot more interesting than that group of supermodels who came in later. Real men, real people, driven by greed. Oh well.
Decent action, decent thrills. Not bad to kill some time with.
Gore Mongral Movie Review: The Cave
ChiefGoreMongral28 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
We start off in Romania 30 years ago where a group of men have decided to go hunting for a Cave that is rumored to have been the place of a fight between demons and templar knights. When they try to crack open the entrance they find out that they may have used too much dynamite and are buried in the cave along with tons of rubble. We then go to the present as scientists are investigating the same location and trying to see if the cave is there. Well they find it and bring in some cave divers to help investigate.
From there accidents occur and they end up being stuck in the cave also. The Cave is one of those monster movies that pisses me off. We get some rather cool looking monsters that pick off our cast one at a time but we rarely see them. I understand to build tension for the first several kills it is good not to show what the creature looks like only quick shots or images (shadows even) but when you are reduced to showing the creatures for about 15 minutes of running time that just sucks. Another complaint is the PG-13 rating. Right there you have neutered the film. This means there will be no bloody decapitations, no limbs being ripped off or severed or any squishy stuff unless it is from the monsters (made famous by the lame duck Aliens vs Predator). This seemed to really hamper several of the death scenes as they could have been more menacing.
So the 2 things about monster movies that is cool 1) The Monster Design and 2) The Gore are kept to a minimum so what do we get, lots of exploring underwater caves.....yeah. Is it all boring? No they do a good job of handling this and the characters, for the most part, are not annoying but its the fact that this is a monster movie and not a cave diving National Geographic special that really will get to you.
In the end this movie does some things right some things wrong. In the end its is just there and when its just there its average so I give The Cave: 5/10: average monster flick, with an R rating and more of the beasties on screen (which did look cool when seen) this "coulda a been a contenda" but falls flat.
In conclusion: If you are going to see one Cave Monster movie see The Descent.
The Cave is out now on DVD.
From there accidents occur and they end up being stuck in the cave also. The Cave is one of those monster movies that pisses me off. We get some rather cool looking monsters that pick off our cast one at a time but we rarely see them. I understand to build tension for the first several kills it is good not to show what the creature looks like only quick shots or images (shadows even) but when you are reduced to showing the creatures for about 15 minutes of running time that just sucks. Another complaint is the PG-13 rating. Right there you have neutered the film. This means there will be no bloody decapitations, no limbs being ripped off or severed or any squishy stuff unless it is from the monsters (made famous by the lame duck Aliens vs Predator). This seemed to really hamper several of the death scenes as they could have been more menacing.
So the 2 things about monster movies that is cool 1) The Monster Design and 2) The Gore are kept to a minimum so what do we get, lots of exploring underwater caves.....yeah. Is it all boring? No they do a good job of handling this and the characters, for the most part, are not annoying but its the fact that this is a monster movie and not a cave diving National Geographic special that really will get to you.
In the end this movie does some things right some things wrong. In the end its is just there and when its just there its average so I give The Cave: 5/10: average monster flick, with an R rating and more of the beasties on screen (which did look cool when seen) this "coulda a been a contenda" but falls flat.
In conclusion: If you are going to see one Cave Monster movie see The Descent.
The Cave is out now on DVD.
Extremely Under-rated!!!!!
crazyy_bags10 October 2010
I saw this movie yesterday night, after going through my other collections and its usually IMDb that provides me motivation of either to watch something or chuck it. So i went through the reviews at IMDb and found that it wasn't highly rated. Still i decided to give it a try as i did not have anything else to watch......and i must say this movie is well made right from the start be it the acting,the choreography,the locations....everything was perfect. The only thing i found wrong was that the characters details were shallow but even then i found this movie amazing.
All i want to say is that reviewers must not go along with the herd if some people criticize then they should as well. This movie deserves the recognition and the people who made it possible as well. Hence i would recommend people to watch this and not go according to the rating earlier shown.
All i want to say is that reviewers must not go along with the herd if some people criticize then they should as well. This movie deserves the recognition and the people who made it possible as well. Hence i would recommend people to watch this and not go according to the rating earlier shown.
Come on, it's a summer creature feature, not the second coming of "Alien"!
willywants3 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
30 years ago a group of explorers entered an immense cave system under a church in Romania. The church caved in and the explorers were trapped, never to be heard from again. Flash forward to present day, where a geological expedition comes across the mouth of the cave. They call in an experienced group of cavers to map the place out, but an underwater passage way collapses, sealing them over a mile underground with no hope of being rescued. They begin searching for a way out, only to come to the realization that they aren't alone; not only are there bizarre, undiscovered creatures, but also the group of explorers from three decades ago, who are no longer quite human I just got back from seeing this in a near-midnight show. There were a total of 9 other people in the theatre, not a good sign really, and combined with the almost exclusively rotten IMDb reviews I wondered if I'd made a mistake. Deciding not to waste my eight bucks and ride the film out, I actually enjoyed what this flick had to offer: A claustrophobic atmosphere, stunning photography, plenty of action, cool monsters and nifty special effects. This is the directional debut of Bruce Hunt, a former second-unit director on the Matrix films and 1998's "Dark City". While he handles some of the dialogue scenes awkwardly, he certainly knows how to make the film LOOK good. Man, this flick is GORGEOUS! Not only are the cave sets great (fantastic production values on this one) but their lit perfectly (and surprisingly realistically). Kudos to cinematographer Ross Emery for giving this flick the visual kick it needed. As for the actors, just about everyone here does well, especially Cole Hauser and Morris Chestnut. The only weak actor here is Piper Perabo. Sure, she's pretty, but she really, really needs to develop some ACTING skills. Then there are the creatures. We never get a lingering look at them, but they are COOL. I'm glad the creatures were mostly created with puppets and prosthetic instead of CG (what little CG there is was mostly limited to shots of the creatures flying), it was a wise move by the filmmakers. Effects artist Patrick Tatopoulos, who also handled the creatures in "Independence Day", "Pitch Black" and "Underworld", has done a great job as usual. Some people have called Tatopoulos the next Stan Winston, and based on the work he's done so far in his career, this very much might be true. Also worth noting is the score by Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek, which, though often low-key, is pulse-pounding and exciting and keeps the action flowing nicely. The ending is your typical twisted horror ending, but hey, it works anyways.
Is "The Cave" a masterpiece of modern film-making? No. Would it have been better if it had had an R rating and more gore? Most certainly. Still, this summer creature feature is more entertaining than I expected it to be, I came in praying I might get at least a LITTLE enjoyment out of it and in the end I got more than I expected to. Enjoy!
6.5/10.
Is "The Cave" a masterpiece of modern film-making? No. Would it have been better if it had had an R rating and more gore? Most certainly. Still, this summer creature feature is more entertaining than I expected it to be, I came in praying I might get at least a LITTLE enjoyment out of it and in the end I got more than I expected to. Enjoy!
6.5/10.
Not bad, for this sort of thing.
Hey_Sweden2 October 2019
An elite team of cave divers is enlisted by a Dr. Nicolai (Marcel Iures, "Hart's War") to explore a newly discovered underground, watery cave system in Romania. They soon discover that they are not alone in those spooky depths: weird creatures lurk around almost every corner, waiting to strike. When team leader Jack (Cole Hauser, "Pitch Black") receives some serious wounds, the other individuals are no longer sure that his judgment can be trusted.
"The Cave" is pretty similar to another 2005 monster movie, Neil Marshalls' "The Descent", except that other film has more of an edge with its female-centric cast. "The Cave" is an okay creature feature, with solid atmosphere, excellent location work (in Romania and Mexico), impressive underwater footage, good widescreen photography (by Ross Emery), and decent monster design. The cast is capable, but they're playing routine characters in a very routine script. That said, "The Cave" is watchable as it builds up its body count, and debuting director Bruce Hunt, who'd been second unit and third unit directors on the "Matrix" series, delivers some visceral action sequences. (However, the action is often edited in such a choppy manner that it becomes incoherent, a standard practice in Hollywood features for some time now.) Hunt and company are also wise to adhere to creature feature tradition and just show bits and pieces of the monsters until it's time to reveal them in all their glory.
Co-starring are Morris Chestnut, who'd previously dealt with oversized snakes in "Anacondas: Hunt for the Blood Orchid", lovely ladies Lena Headey ('Game of Thrones') and Piper Perabo ("Coyote Ugly"), Eddie Cibrian ('Third Watch'), TV veteran Rick Ravanello, Daniel Dae Kim ('Lost'), and Kieran Darcy-Smith ("Animal Kingdom").
Although hardly inspired, "The Cave" provides adequate, effectively paced entertainment for creature feature devotees.
Five out of 10.
"The Cave" is pretty similar to another 2005 monster movie, Neil Marshalls' "The Descent", except that other film has more of an edge with its female-centric cast. "The Cave" is an okay creature feature, with solid atmosphere, excellent location work (in Romania and Mexico), impressive underwater footage, good widescreen photography (by Ross Emery), and decent monster design. The cast is capable, but they're playing routine characters in a very routine script. That said, "The Cave" is watchable as it builds up its body count, and debuting director Bruce Hunt, who'd been second unit and third unit directors on the "Matrix" series, delivers some visceral action sequences. (However, the action is often edited in such a choppy manner that it becomes incoherent, a standard practice in Hollywood features for some time now.) Hunt and company are also wise to adhere to creature feature tradition and just show bits and pieces of the monsters until it's time to reveal them in all their glory.
Co-starring are Morris Chestnut, who'd previously dealt with oversized snakes in "Anacondas: Hunt for the Blood Orchid", lovely ladies Lena Headey ('Game of Thrones') and Piper Perabo ("Coyote Ugly"), Eddie Cibrian ('Third Watch'), TV veteran Rick Ravanello, Daniel Dae Kim ('Lost'), and Kieran Darcy-Smith ("Animal Kingdom").
Although hardly inspired, "The Cave" provides adequate, effectively paced entertainment for creature feature devotees.
Five out of 10.
Basic and unsuccessful genre movie that fails to thrill, frighten or entertain
bob the moo6 November 2008
The Cave and The Descent both came out around the same sort of time in the UK but, unlike Armageddon/Deep Impact etc, both were low budget affairs and it wasn't like there was any sort of box office battle between them. Were there a battle though, it would be the sort of boxing match that is over after twelve seconds when the referee stops it and The Descent would be far and away the winner across almost all measures (except "number of men in cast" I guess). There will always be better films though, so we shouldn't focus on a better one while watching The Cave but rather judge it on its own merits and whether or not it delivers enough to be worth seeing. Roughly the film just about has enough in it to distract but never more than that and it is never just one thing that is the weakness because the film has issues across it in almost every area that conspire to make it a "so-so" product.
The plot is fine for a monster movie and, coming into the film I was already prepared for "group enter situation for some reason, get trapped and are picked off one by one until only a few manage to escape" film that I hoped would be exciting and enjoyable for what it was. I tend to do this with genre movies because there is little point in looking for more and moaning when it is not there; however, it is fair comment when the genre aspects are badly done or fudged so that it doesn't even operate at the level of the genre. This is the case with The Cave, which cannot ever manage to settle on an approach and focus on making it work really well. The plot is not really the issue but the delivery of it is. Suspension of belief is important and you generally get that by bringing the audience so into the world of the film that they only think with the logic internal to the film, if they have want to think at all. Tension and excitement are ways of doing this and The Descent showed how that was done The Cave shows how not to do it.
There isn't really any tension here and even the attacks are not that excitement. Mostly they are delivered in bloodless ways with frantic camera work so that you cannot see what is going on. Later on some of the horror gets "uncomfortable" but never more than that; I doubt my pulse got above resting levels at any point during the film. The creatures themselves are reasonable CGI effects but are just another CGI-generated monster that owes a lot to many other creatures that have gone before it I think there must be a Hollywood CGI computer programme that you push a button and it generates creatures at random with the ability to tweak or add bits to it (in this case wings). The cast are just a bland and unimaginative though. Hamstrung by a poor script, their performances are average and nobody really steps up to engage with the audience and make it "fun" for them. I expected Morris Chestnut to do this but nope. Hauser is the "main" character and does try to make his character's twist work but it gets lost between him and the filmmakers and something that could have been a building menace from within is just another thing that don't work! It also leads to a twist at the end that is only terrifying in that it suggests a sequel (which will probably never come). Perabo provides looks and body to the mix and has a bit of energy but the film never uses her. Headey, Cibrian, Ravanello, Kim and the others might as well have been cardboard cut-outs carried round on sticks for all the difference they made not that they are "bad" just that nobody can bring anything of real meaning. Hunt's direction is poor. He never really uses his underground/underwater locations to good effect and it is only ever the setting and not a massive part of the film working as it was in The Descent.
What we are left with is a genre film that grinds away at a very basic level, never aspiring to much and delivering less than it should have done. It is distracting but dull as uninteresting characters are killed by creatures that don't inspire terror in ways that are as thrilling as vacuuming the front room. Maybe it is OK for a lazy Friday night in with a basic cable movie, but if you want more than the absolute basics then it is not for you.
The plot is fine for a monster movie and, coming into the film I was already prepared for "group enter situation for some reason, get trapped and are picked off one by one until only a few manage to escape" film that I hoped would be exciting and enjoyable for what it was. I tend to do this with genre movies because there is little point in looking for more and moaning when it is not there; however, it is fair comment when the genre aspects are badly done or fudged so that it doesn't even operate at the level of the genre. This is the case with The Cave, which cannot ever manage to settle on an approach and focus on making it work really well. The plot is not really the issue but the delivery of it is. Suspension of belief is important and you generally get that by bringing the audience so into the world of the film that they only think with the logic internal to the film, if they have want to think at all. Tension and excitement are ways of doing this and The Descent showed how that was done The Cave shows how not to do it.
There isn't really any tension here and even the attacks are not that excitement. Mostly they are delivered in bloodless ways with frantic camera work so that you cannot see what is going on. Later on some of the horror gets "uncomfortable" but never more than that; I doubt my pulse got above resting levels at any point during the film. The creatures themselves are reasonable CGI effects but are just another CGI-generated monster that owes a lot to many other creatures that have gone before it I think there must be a Hollywood CGI computer programme that you push a button and it generates creatures at random with the ability to tweak or add bits to it (in this case wings). The cast are just a bland and unimaginative though. Hamstrung by a poor script, their performances are average and nobody really steps up to engage with the audience and make it "fun" for them. I expected Morris Chestnut to do this but nope. Hauser is the "main" character and does try to make his character's twist work but it gets lost between him and the filmmakers and something that could have been a building menace from within is just another thing that don't work! It also leads to a twist at the end that is only terrifying in that it suggests a sequel (which will probably never come). Perabo provides looks and body to the mix and has a bit of energy but the film never uses her. Headey, Cibrian, Ravanello, Kim and the others might as well have been cardboard cut-outs carried round on sticks for all the difference they made not that they are "bad" just that nobody can bring anything of real meaning. Hunt's direction is poor. He never really uses his underground/underwater locations to good effect and it is only ever the setting and not a massive part of the film working as it was in The Descent.
What we are left with is a genre film that grinds away at a very basic level, never aspiring to much and delivering less than it should have done. It is distracting but dull as uninteresting characters are killed by creatures that don't inspire terror in ways that are as thrilling as vacuuming the front room. Maybe it is OK for a lazy Friday night in with a basic cable movie, but if you want more than the absolute basics then it is not for you.
What lives in the cave is unfriendly.
michaelRokeefe21 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
A 13th century Abbey is discovered deep in a Romanian forest. Under the ruins is found an entrance to a giant underground cave. Local biologists seem to believe the cave serves as home to a mysterious ecosystem and hire a crack group of American spelunkers to help investigate the ageless and almost boundless depths. What is found is not just a new ecosystem, but an entirely new species. Trapped deep below, the divers find themselves part of the food chain. Strange creatures await human blood.
This Sci-Fi adventure has its share of thrills and some pretty decent F/X. The apt cast includes: Cole Hauser, Rick Ravanello, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Lena Headey and Piper Perabo. Some scenes may be too intense for younger viewers. These cave dwelling creatures/monsters have a healthy appetite.
This Sci-Fi adventure has its share of thrills and some pretty decent F/X. The apt cast includes: Cole Hauser, Rick Ravanello, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Lena Headey and Piper Perabo. Some scenes may be too intense for younger viewers. These cave dwelling creatures/monsters have a healthy appetite.
I agree!
Beddiewong8 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I rented this film from Blockbust because of the Cover and Title! Sounded intriguing!! This movie suffered because of the writing, it needed more suspense. The "monsters" needed more face time. We needed them to have some sort of special power and definitely more "Oh Sh--" moments. The photography didn't bother me except for the scene where a re-breather blows up. There were too many close ups. But other than that the movie seemed to drag and the heroes didn't really work for their freedom. Overall, I would say everyone put in a lot of time even the writers. But this movie is definitely a below average rent.
There are definitely better picks. I would recommend Anacondas 1 or 2 over this pick.
There are definitely better picks. I would recommend Anacondas 1 or 2 over this pick.
bad movie
jonpander17 October 2005
This was by far one of the worst movies I have seen! I paid very little to get in and I still felt ripped off. I was actually kinda wanting to see it too. All that changed rapidly. The movie is one big blur. You couldn't tell who was being eaten and really you didn't care. The movie has potential but the camera was the main problem. Every shot was an Extreme Close-Up of god knows what. You could not tell cave from monster. Oh yes there are monsters. This is the bastard spawn of Alien vs. Predator. Please save your time and money and do not see this movie. Spend time with your family, go for a walk, sit staring at the wall(at least you will know what you are looking at).
Not scary but some fun action
SnoopyStyle16 October 2013
A group of scientist/explorers are brought in to explore a cave in Romania. Legend claims a church was built to seal the cave as a display of God's protective power, and Templar Knights fought winged demons.
The acting is pretty good with some solid actors. The most recognizable actors are Lena Headey, Morris Chestnut, Daniel Dae Kim, Cole Hauser, Piper Perabo, and Eddie Cibrian. They're able to give serious performances without being campy.
It's not scary as a horror, but it works more as an action adventure. They could have laid out the cave system better as the movie goes along. A few seconds of screen time could save a whole lot of headaches. Seeing Piper Perabo swinging on the cliff is a lot of fun. However some of the other action scenes are too confused and chaotic.
The creatures are a bit of a disappointment. It's just yet another CG creature creation. Half lizard half dragon, it could have been so much better considering what the creatures are derived from. They could have made it much more original and unique.
The acting is pretty good with some solid actors. The most recognizable actors are Lena Headey, Morris Chestnut, Daniel Dae Kim, Cole Hauser, Piper Perabo, and Eddie Cibrian. They're able to give serious performances without being campy.
It's not scary as a horror, but it works more as an action adventure. They could have laid out the cave system better as the movie goes along. A few seconds of screen time could save a whole lot of headaches. Seeing Piper Perabo swinging on the cliff is a lot of fun. However some of the other action scenes are too confused and chaotic.
The creatures are a bit of a disappointment. It's just yet another CG creature creation. Half lizard half dragon, it could have been so much better considering what the creatures are derived from. They could have made it much more original and unique.
AMAZING!.... or not
druss44121-128 August 2005
The new thriller The Cave is inspiring! It's stupendous! Incredible! It will reaffirm even the most jaded movie goer's faith in the power of cinema and film schools all around the country will become overloaded with impressionable youth now newly inspired! At least, that's what would be said if Screen Gems offered ten burlap sacks stuffed full of Ben Franklin's to any willing corrupt movie reviewer.
Unfortunately the actual movie of The Cave is easily one of the worst of 2005, if not the sole possessor of such a coveted spot. Every single cliché that can exist in the "monster horror" genre is exploited to no end, and despite the lack of ambition the screenplay still manages to make very little sense.
That's not to say screenwriter's Michael Steinberg and Tegan West are the only ones worthy of blame. The acting is especially caught red-handed, showcasing amazing skills ranging from dead-pan delivery to dulled empty gazes. Whenever a character dies the real laughs begin, and lead actor Cole Hauser appears to be bored out of his mind.
It's not a surprise though. Hauser already did Pitch Black, another sci-fi creature feature very similar to this one except in the quality of the end product. Piper Perabo cannot be forgotten, either. Playing Charlie, she is a special standout because of the authenticity she lends to her character. Why aren't real genius scientists ever so hot and scantily clad? Or dumb? The real star of the show though is director Bruce Hunt who lavishes poorly lit sets and incomprehensible editing on his unsuspecting audience. Previously a second unit director, it is clear Mr. Hunt isn't quite ready for the big leagues yet. Instilling no mood or sense into his feature debut, The Cave stutters along painfully in search for cohesion or even a good scare.
Its okay Bruce, the University of Toledo has a nice film program. Maybe you should check it out.
Sadly, the rest of the movie isn't even worth talking about. The effects are pathetic and seldom used; the plot twists are, well, non-existent. The characters act in completely unreasonable ways and there are lapses of logic that require a bit too much suspension of disbelief, even for a movie about a cave full of supernatural beasts.
Best of all, the action scenes appear to have been shot by a man with severe epilepsy and the editor was most likely eaten alive by a shark before finishing. Far-fetched? Maybe, but it would explain why The Cave is edited and paced the way it is.
To be fair, though, it must be kept in mind that a movie such as The Cave isn't meant to be an award winner or a life changer. However, when all is said and done there is still a difference between entertaining and just plain bad.
Talent, and more importantly passion, can make even the driest overdone ideas interesting again, and even the average B-movie can have a certain magic to it. Sometimes a night at the movies is just meant to transport and entertain, and there's nothing wrong with finding huge mutated cave dwelling creatures entertaining.
However, in the end there is quite a bit wrong with The Cave. For a movie so devoid of any desire to stand out, it still stumbles at even the most basic levels. From the broadest elements right down to the littlest details nearly ever conceptual choice is flawed and underdeveloped.
Remember, a good creature feature probably won't be great art, but at least it won't be The Cave.
Critic's Conclusion: The tagline proudly proclaims "There are places man was never meant to go." Clearly any darkened movie theatre playing The Cave on end is one of them.
Unfortunately the actual movie of The Cave is easily one of the worst of 2005, if not the sole possessor of such a coveted spot. Every single cliché that can exist in the "monster horror" genre is exploited to no end, and despite the lack of ambition the screenplay still manages to make very little sense.
That's not to say screenwriter's Michael Steinberg and Tegan West are the only ones worthy of blame. The acting is especially caught red-handed, showcasing amazing skills ranging from dead-pan delivery to dulled empty gazes. Whenever a character dies the real laughs begin, and lead actor Cole Hauser appears to be bored out of his mind.
It's not a surprise though. Hauser already did Pitch Black, another sci-fi creature feature very similar to this one except in the quality of the end product. Piper Perabo cannot be forgotten, either. Playing Charlie, she is a special standout because of the authenticity she lends to her character. Why aren't real genius scientists ever so hot and scantily clad? Or dumb? The real star of the show though is director Bruce Hunt who lavishes poorly lit sets and incomprehensible editing on his unsuspecting audience. Previously a second unit director, it is clear Mr. Hunt isn't quite ready for the big leagues yet. Instilling no mood or sense into his feature debut, The Cave stutters along painfully in search for cohesion or even a good scare.
Its okay Bruce, the University of Toledo has a nice film program. Maybe you should check it out.
Sadly, the rest of the movie isn't even worth talking about. The effects are pathetic and seldom used; the plot twists are, well, non-existent. The characters act in completely unreasonable ways and there are lapses of logic that require a bit too much suspension of disbelief, even for a movie about a cave full of supernatural beasts.
Best of all, the action scenes appear to have been shot by a man with severe epilepsy and the editor was most likely eaten alive by a shark before finishing. Far-fetched? Maybe, but it would explain why The Cave is edited and paced the way it is.
To be fair, though, it must be kept in mind that a movie such as The Cave isn't meant to be an award winner or a life changer. However, when all is said and done there is still a difference between entertaining and just plain bad.
Talent, and more importantly passion, can make even the driest overdone ideas interesting again, and even the average B-movie can have a certain magic to it. Sometimes a night at the movies is just meant to transport and entertain, and there's nothing wrong with finding huge mutated cave dwelling creatures entertaining.
However, in the end there is quite a bit wrong with The Cave. For a movie so devoid of any desire to stand out, it still stumbles at even the most basic levels. From the broadest elements right down to the littlest details nearly ever conceptual choice is flawed and underdeveloped.
Remember, a good creature feature probably won't be great art, but at least it won't be The Cave.
Critic's Conclusion: The tagline proudly proclaims "There are places man was never meant to go." Clearly any darkened movie theatre playing The Cave on end is one of them.
Predictable Rip-off of Alien, But Entertains
claudio_carvalho12 August 2006
Thirty years ago, in the Carpathians Mountains of Romania, a group of explorers blows an entrance to a cave hidden under a church, but the explosion causes a landslide and they become trapped inside. In the present days, the expedition leaded by Dr. Nicolai (Marcel Iures) and his assistant, Dr. Kathryn (Lena Headey) are exploring the place and they find the access through an underwater river, requesting the experienced cave divers team leaded by Jack (Cole Hauser). Dr. Nicolai discovers that, in accordance with the local legend, the church was built to seal the cave as a display of God's protective power, and that Templar Knights entered the cave to fight winged demons. When the group reaches a cave though a tunnel one mile below and three miles in, a creature attacks one of the members and his breathing apparatus explodes, collapsing the tunnel and trapping the group in the cave. Sooner they realize that they are the rescue team and they have to find an exit to survive from the attack of the monsters.
"The Cave" is a predictable rip-off of Alien. If the viewer sees the trailer, as I did, he knows the whole story, and will only bet how many, if any, of the characters will survive in the end. This movie entertains because of the locations and the good cast. I am a fan of Lena Headey and her beauty is a good reason to see this film. The conclusion is a hook for a sequel, as usual. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "A Caverna" ("The Cave")
"The Cave" is a predictable rip-off of Alien. If the viewer sees the trailer, as I did, he knows the whole story, and will only bet how many, if any, of the characters will survive in the end. This movie entertains because of the locations and the good cast. I am a fan of Lena Headey and her beauty is a good reason to see this film. The conclusion is a hook for a sequel, as usual. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "A Caverna" ("The Cave")
Very forgettable
Darkside-Reviewer25 February 2021
The Cave (2005) is a Horror/Thriller movie that focuses on a group of scientists and professional cave divers as they descend into a previously unexplored cave. This is just one of many horror films that follow the same basic storyline of a group of explorers getting lost in a previously undiscovered cave system only to find themselves trapped with some kind of predatory creatures. Another movie similar to The Cave was actually released the same year in 2005 called (The Descent) which has an almost identical plot to this movie only better and with significantly more gore and likable characters.
The Cave actually had some interesting ideas that sadly weren't focused on all that much in the film. The idea behind how the creature's in the movie evolve is actually pretty interesting. The creature's were once human but were infected by a parasite that forces the hosts body to evolve and adapt to it's surroundings at a rapid rate. Each creature has a unique look aswell as having unique features such as sonar vision, fangs and claws, some even grow wings and gills. This idea could have given us some terrifying and unique creatures but sadly what we got instead are some of the most generic looking CGI creatures I've ever seen in a horror movie.
The Cave lacks the blood and gore of an R rated horror film and while it does have some good ideas they are wasted on this poorly written film. If your looking for a gore filled horror movie about cave explorers being killed off one by one by savage creatures then I recommend The Descent (2005) it is a far superior film.
The Cave actually had some interesting ideas that sadly weren't focused on all that much in the film. The idea behind how the creature's in the movie evolve is actually pretty interesting. The creature's were once human but were infected by a parasite that forces the hosts body to evolve and adapt to it's surroundings at a rapid rate. Each creature has a unique look aswell as having unique features such as sonar vision, fangs and claws, some even grow wings and gills. This idea could have given us some terrifying and unique creatures but sadly what we got instead are some of the most generic looking CGI creatures I've ever seen in a horror movie.
The Cave lacks the blood and gore of an R rated horror film and while it does have some good ideas they are wasted on this poorly written film. If your looking for a gore filled horror movie about cave explorers being killed off one by one by savage creatures then I recommend The Descent (2005) it is a far superior film.
not a must see but recommend it
frozen_glee27 August 2005
the concept doesn't miss anything.the team leader's way of making people agree with him(along with the support of his brother) and how paradoxical the path to escape are what i remember scene by scene-the emphasis definitely gets to the audience.however,when the team is being chased by the demonic looking creatures,it looks way too shaky to follow,making it almost impossible to look at the screen because you can't see anything clearly.other than that,since 'beneath hell lied the cave' i expected to see more of those 'bad guys',after all they've been there for centuries supposedly without disturbances from the outside world. overall it's an exciting movie and i had a really good time watching it.
An underrated movie.
MidwesternViewer22 December 2017
This movie had pretty much everything it should.
The photography and scenery were very beautifully done.
The cast was fun and varied, Cole Hauser especially was very intense and captivating and carried the movie well.
There was plenty of suspense, horror, adventure, action, monsters, 3D graphics, the whole range.
But a lot of people whine "Its just like Alien". While there are some similar elements between to two, I didn't think of Alien while watching it, and I've seen this movie a few times. Its hard to make a monster movie that DOESN'T have elements in common with others.
After seeing some truly miserable movies that people give high marks too, I don't follow the low marks this movie got unless most of the self-important reviewers were from the "Shakespeare in the Park" set.
This movie did what it set out to do, and in a fun picturesque way.
The Cave is a shallow experience
Colbridge18 July 2021
This movie is enjoyable enough as a popcorn creature feature but compared to Neil Marshall's The Descent which came out in the same year this falls well short of being an effective horror thriller.
The Cave should be a tense, claustrophobic and terrifying experience but it's simply not, instead it goes down the action thriller route and relies on CGI creature effects to win the audience over. It's more of an adventure to explore these caves rather than fear them which is where The Descent works so much better because you can feel the claustrophobia, being in a sense of place, of being trapped in that situation.
Here we don't really care about the characters and neither does the uninspired script that is well worn and thinly plotted. The Cave offers nothing new except a few thrills, cool visuals and interestingly designed creatures.
Lena Headey stands out as one of the scientists but the characters are badly drawn and the movie doesn't know whether it wants to be a horror, thriller or action flick. So despite it's physical depth the Cave is actually a shallow experience.
The Cave should be a tense, claustrophobic and terrifying experience but it's simply not, instead it goes down the action thriller route and relies on CGI creature effects to win the audience over. It's more of an adventure to explore these caves rather than fear them which is where The Descent works so much better because you can feel the claustrophobia, being in a sense of place, of being trapped in that situation.
Here we don't really care about the characters and neither does the uninspired script that is well worn and thinly plotted. The Cave offers nothing new except a few thrills, cool visuals and interestingly designed creatures.
Lena Headey stands out as one of the scientists but the characters are badly drawn and the movie doesn't know whether it wants to be a horror, thriller or action flick. So despite it's physical depth the Cave is actually a shallow experience.
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