The Descent (2005)

Director:

Neil Marshall

Writer:

Neil Marshall (writer)

Release Date:

4 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Scream your last breath.

Plot:

A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.

Plot Keywords:

Cave | Expedition | Friendship | Blood | Cave In

Awards:

7 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Shauna Macdonald	...	Sarah
Natalie Jackson Mendoza	...	Juno (as Natalie Mendoza)
Alex Reid	...	Beth
Saskia Mulder	...	Rebecca
MyAnna Buring	...	Sam
Nora-Jane Noone	...	Holly
Oliver Milburn	...	Paul
Molly Kayll	...	Jessica
Craig Conway	...	Crawler - Scar
Leslie Simpson	...	Crawler
Mark Cronfield	...	Crawler
Stephen Lamb	...	Crawler (as Steve Lamb)
Catherine Dyson	...	Crawler
Julie Ellis	...	Crawler
Sophie Trott	...	Crawler
Tristan Matthiae	...	Crawler
Stuart Luis	...	Crawler
Justin Hackney	...	Crawler

Directed by
Neil Marshall

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Neil Marshall		writer

Produced by
Keith Bell	....	associate producer: Northmen Productions
Christian Colson	....	producer
Ivana Mackinnon	....	associate producer
Paul Ritchie	....	co-producer
Paul Smith	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Julyan

Cinematography by
Sam McCurdy

Film Editing by
Jon Harris

Casting by
William Davies
Gail Stevens

Production Design by
Simon Bowles

Art Direction by
Jason Knox-Johnston

Costume Design by
Nancy Thompson

Makeup Department
James Adams	....	prosthetics assistant
Jo Budden	....	prosthetics assistant (as Joanna Budden)
Stuart Conran	....	senior prosthetic makeup artist
Jacqueline Fowler	....	prosthetic makeup effects artist (as Jackie Fowler)
Jo Hannford	....	hair stylist: MyAnna Buring
Jennifer Harty	....	makeup supervisor
Paul Hyett	....	special makeup effects designer
Vicki Lang	....	makeup supervisor (as Vickie Lang)
Tanya Lodge	....	makeup designer
Neil Morrill	....	special makeup effects artist (as Neil Morille)
Sandrine Mugglestone	....	makeup trainee: FT2
Conal Palmer	....	senior prosthetic makeup effects artist
Robin Pritchard	....	senior prosthetic makeup effects artist
Stuart Sewell	....	prosthetic makeup effects artist
Dawn Stewart	....	prosthetics assistant
Daniel Vidal	....	trainee sculptor
Simon Webber	....	lead sculptor
Samia Wood	....	prosthetics technician

Production Management
Jeanette Haley	....	post-production supervisor
Jennifer Wynne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matt Carver	....	second assistant director
Joanna Crow	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Tanya Harris	....	third assistant director
Paul Mason	....	third assistant director
Jack Ravenscroft	....	first assistant director
Charlie Waller	....	second assistant director: additional photography
Dan Winch	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
David Abbott	....	stand-by carpenter
Barry Amos-Yeo	....	greens assistant
Kevin Amos-Yeo	....	greens assistant
Graham Baker	....	stand-by rigger
Paul Bradburn	....	dressing props
Alfie Burgess	....	stand-by props
Dean Clegg	....	stand-by art director
Jim Cornish	....	storyboard artist
Billy Edwards	....	stand-by props
Michael Kelm	....	props
Armordillo Design & Construction Ltd	....	set building in foam and resin
Johnny Mann	....	sculptor supervisor
Jon Marson	....	head greensman
Jono Moles	....	construction manager
Lucy Moles	....	construction coordinator
Helen Morgan	....	art department trainee
Harry Pain	....	art department assistant
Barnaby Papworth	....	carpenter
Jo Sansom	....	art department runner
Zoe Smith	....	production buyer
Terry Stinson	....	dressing props
Terry Wood	....	property master

Sound Department
Stuart Bagshaw	....	foley recordist
Oliver Brierley	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Wayne Brooks	....	adr editor
Paul Carter	....	foley editor
Matthew Collinge	....	supervising sound editor
Ed Evers-Swindell	....	additional crawler sound effects
Robert Farr	....	adr recordist
Colin Gregory	....	boom operator
Nigel Heath	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Hoskins	....	additional sound designer
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist
Michael Maroussas	....	sound effects editor
Joseph Paines	....	FT2 sound trainee
Rob Prynne	....	adr editor
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer
Danny Sheehan	....	supervising sound editor
Nick Thermes	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Paul Hyett	....	special effects makeup designer
Clive R. Kay	....	special effects contact lenses
Richard Magrin	....	special effects crew
Neil Morrill	....	special effects makeup
Christine Overs	....	fabricator: animals
Robin Pritchard	....	makeup effects artist
John Rafique	....	special effects supervisor (as Johnny Rafique)
Nick Rideout	....	special effects supervisor
Nick Smith	....	senior special effects technician
Mark Vanstone	....	senior special effects technician
Simon Webber	....	lead sculptor
Stuart Wishart	....	animatronics designer

Visual Effects by
Bob Ballan	....	senior model maker
James Ballan	....	model maker
Ritchie Beacham-Paterson	....	post production manager: Lipsync Post
Lee Clappison	....	colourist
Ivan Cornell	....	digital lab systems support: Lipsync Post
Neil Damman	....	digital compositor: Mattes & Miniatures
William Foxwell	....	digital lab operator: Lip Sync Post (as Will Foxwell)
Scott Goulding	....	digital lab operator
David Hewitt	....	model maker (as David Hewit)
Katja Hollmann	....	digital lab supervisor: Lipsync Post
Sue Lin	....	model maker
Alasdair MacCuish	....	digital grade producer: Lipsync Post
James Manning	....	model maker
Adrian Oostergetel	....	digital effects artist
Mike Peel	....	model maker
Adrian Platt	....	digital matte artist: Mattes & Miniatures
Leigh Took	....	visual effects supervisor
Howard Watkins	....	visual effects supervisor: Lip Sync Post
Phillip West	....	camera operator: miniature effects
Julia Hall	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Angela Rose	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Claire Alderton	....	stunt assistant
George Cottle	....	stunt performer
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt coordinator
John Fell	....	wire assistant
Stephen Fell	....	wire assistant
Steve Griffin	....	stunt coordinator (as Steve 'Street' Griffin)
Paul Hornsby	....	stunt assistant: additional photography
Paul Hornsby	....	stunt supervisor
Robert Schofield	....	wire supervisor (as Bob Schofield)
Lee Sheward	....	stunt driver
Roy Weatherley	....	wire effects
David Williams	....	wire effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
Rami Bartholdy	....	camera trainee: second unit
Sergio Bernuzzi	....	key grip
Ashley Bond	....	focus puller: second unit
Tim Driscoll	....	best boy
Warwick Drucker	....	additional crane grip
Dai Evans	....	crane grip
Tony Fabian	....	grip: second unit
Kate Filby	....	clapper loader: second unit
Jon Garwes	....	focus puller
Ross Grainger	....	electrician
Rodrigo Gutierrez	....	director of photography: second unit
John Heald	....	grip: second unit
Alice Hobden	....	clapper loader: second unit
Phil Humphries	....	clapper loader
Bob Milton	....	electrician
Ang Richards	....	camera trainee: FT2
Andrew Robertson	....	video assist operator
Steve Slocombe	....	best boy
Andrew Taylor	....	gaffer
John Taylor	....	Steadicam operator
Amelia Troubridge	....	still photographer
Matthew Waving	....	camera trainee
Dave Wells	....	trainee grip
Gareth Williams	....	electrician

Casting Department
David Wheal	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen Ingham	....	costume supervisor
Catherine Jordan	....	costume trainee: FT2
Kate Laver	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Ritchie Beacham-Paterson	....	digital lab production manager: Lip Sync Post
Siobhan Boyes	....	post-production coordinator
Lee Clappison	....	colorist
Alasdair MacCuish	....	digital lab producer: Lip Sync Post
Russell Pawson	....	HD DVD conform editor
Kevin Phelan	....	digital lab head of post-production: Lip Sync Post
Catriona Richardson	....	assistant editor (as Tina Richardson)
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Chris Barrett	....	score assistant
Terry Edwards	....	choir conductor
Andrew Glen	....	music editor (as Andy Glen)
Isobel Griffiths	....	musicians contractor
Martyn Harry	....	music arranger: choral
Nick Ingman	....	conductor
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Steve Orchard	....	score mixer
Steve Orchard	....	score recordist
Emily Rogers	....	music editor
Bill Silcock	....	music preparation
Ian Wood	....	assistant scoring engineer
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader

Transportation Department
Chris Mayhead	....	driver: cast
Colin Simmons	....	driver

Other crew
Sarah Baker	....	development assistant
Sarah Baker	....	production assistant
Hannah Brown	....	floor runner
Georgina Bryce	....	double
Georgina Bryce	....	runner
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Andrew Gwyn Davies	....	production coordinator: pick-up shots
Yvette Dore	....	unit publicist
Hannah Godwin	....	production coordinator
Brian Hall	....	supervisor: climbing
Darroch Harkness	....	consultant: helicopter
Harriet Harper	....	assistant to executive producer
Steve Harrow	....	pre-production consultant
Emily Hobbs	....	floor runner
Rachel James	....	post-production accountant
Clive R. Kay	....	special effects contact lenses
Emma Magee	....	production runner
Chris Mayhead	....	cast security
Chris Moore	....	location scout
Debbie Moore	....	production accountant
Natalie Moore	....	assistant accountant
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory contact
Bill Ridealgh	....	unit medic
Richard Rowntree	....	assistant: Steve Harrow
David Taylor	....	unit manager: Scotland
Elizabeth West	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Celador Films
• Northmen Productions (in association with)
• Pathé

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• FS Film Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• La Fabrique de Films (2005) (France) (all media)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Square One Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Mattes & Miniatures Atlantic Digital (MMAD) (visual effects)
• Lip Sync Post (digital grading)
• Elements Special Effects (physical effects)

Other Companies

• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• AP  title design: main and end titles
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded at (as Air Lyndhurst)
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Fatts  post-production script service
• Fuji Photo Film  motion picture film supplied by
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recording
• Hackenbacker Sound  sound re-recorded at (as Hackenbacker)
• J & E Post Production  post-production consultant
• Jason Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Lip Sync Post  digital film grading
• Lofty's Lab  stills processing
• Lusam Music  music published by
• Midnight Transfer  post-production facility
• Phaze UK  sound design
• TLO Film Services  action vehicles
• Take 2 Film Services  camera equipment provided by
• TayScreen Scotland  locations
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  foley recording (as Videosonics)

Also Known As:

Crawlspace (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/gore and language.

Runtime:

99 min | 100 min (original unrated cut)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS (US prints) | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Norway:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:18 | Finland:K-18 | Singapore:R21 | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Taiwan:R-18 | Sweden:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:16 (cut) | Iceland:16 | France:-16 | Argentina:16 | Germany:16 (cut version) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #41746) | Brazil:16 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R16 | Japan:R-18 | Italy:VM14 | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:18SG | Germany:18 (DVD rating) | Ireland:18 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Celador Films

Trivia:

According to the audio commentary on the special edition DVD, there was a exact replica made of Nora-Jane Noone and after the movie was finished, she got to keep the head of the doll and put it in her mother's freezer as a joke.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Juno and Sarah are talking during their meal break, Juno has nothing in her hands. But when the angle changes she is suddenly holding an apple.

Quotes:

Rebecca: The noise she's making, she'll bring every one of those things down on her head.
Sam: As long as it's not on mine.

Movie Connections:

References "Sesame Street" (1969)

Brilliantly tense from start to finish

With Dog Soldiers, Neil Marshall created a tight and claustrophobic atmosphere then added the scares to create a very good horror film. However, the tension was often released with humour and the audience were allowed to catch their breath and relax. At no point in The Descent are you allowed to relax as Marshall grabs your attention within the first few minutes and doesn't let go until the credits roll at the end.

With the film set almost entirely underground, the lack of light is used to wonderful effect and Marshall keeps you on edge for 100 minutes; if you liked Dog Soldiers, 28 Days Later and/or Haute Tension and are sick of the formulaic rubbish being pumped out of Hollywood then The Descent is likely to be right up your street.