Fridae

As the end of year approaches, we can say this with great certainty:
The Descent is the best horror movie of 2005. It is so
good, in fact, that writer-director Neil Marshall was recently named
Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards — an
honour rarely bestowed on a director of a horror movie.

In The Descent, six sexy and feisty women go to Appalachian
Mountains for a cave expedition. Burrowing through small tunnels,
they find themselves in a subterranean lair that's infested with
mutant creatures. Because they are strong and brave women, they
manage to kick some serious ass before their numbers start to dwindle.

The Descent may present the classic "women in peril?situation.
But these women are certainly not taking it lying down. The film
is also directed with such skill and bravura that you find yourself
swept up on a roller-coaster journey of thrills and spills.

Movie smart-alecks will spot the film's cool references to horror
classics like The Shining, Deliverance, Carrie,
The Hills Have Eyes and Alien. One bloody image
of a woman standing triumphant over a mutant she killed beautifully
recalls Sigourney Weaver's iconic poses in the Alien films.

Coolly claustrophobic, this subterranean scare-fest will have you
gasping for air.