- Rumor: Matthew McConaughey Possibly Captain America - Blasphemy!
- Twilight's First Official Photo and Why I'm Passing
- Sound Off: Iron Man - What Did You Think?
- Must Watch: Second Full Trailer for The Dark Knight!
- Michael Moore Making Fahrenheit 9/11 Sequel! (May 13, 2008)
- Point Break Gets a Sequel with Jan de Bont! (May 13, 2008)
- The Weinstein Company Officially Making a Fraggle Rock Movie (May 13, 2008)
- Guy Ritchie Finally Helming a Sgt. Rock Movie? (May 12, 2008)
| Speed Racer | 8/10 |
| The Fall | 8/10 |
| Then She Found Me | 7/10 |
| Speed Racer | 8/10 |
Update On The Descent 2 and It's Not Looking Good
May 2, 2008
Source: Cinematical
by Kevin Powers
When I learned that a sequel to 2006's The Descent was in the works, I was immediately excited - not because of continuing the story, per se, but because the original was just so good. But when I heard that Neil Marshall wouldn't be returning to direct, my enthusiasm withered. And with the plot details revealed today, I'd have to say that even my interest is waning at this point. Cinematical brings us a number of interesting details, which if you've seen the original brings about a number of disappointing realizations. Warning: the are some spoilers below if you're ready to continue.
First up is that sole survivor Sarah (Shauna MacDonald) will be returning. That seems logical, since she did get out (at least in the US version). But apparently Juno (Natalie Mendoza) will be reprising her role as well. Wait, what? Last we saw Juno she was dealing with a pickax through her thigh and a dozen cave-dwelling albino critters bearing down on her. So how exactly does she escape?
Put that aside and let's move onto the next weird point. Apparently Sarah is "forced back into the system of caves she battled her way out of in the first film, in a bid to locate the rest of her group." So maybe Sarah rescues Juno; but that doesn't make sense either, since Sarah drove off in a frenzy and Juno surely would have been cave-kill by the time she returned. But why in the hell would Sarah go back? We witnessed everyone else die, and Juno was surely a goner. And judging from Sarah's crazy-eyed sprint, I find it hard to believe she'd go back for anything, much less a home-wrecking bohemian.
Writer James Watkins certainly has his work cut out for him. But I can't say anything he's done prior leaves room for encouragement. Making it worse, the sequel marks John Harris' directorial debut. All considered, this smells of bastardizing something that was great in order to make the quick, cliche Hollywood buck. Not to hate on these guys, but the Descent isn't positioned for some half-assed extension. And if you're at all cued into to the original, you know in the UK version no one got out of the cave. Good luck taking the sequel overseas, then.
Given that The Descent is still one of my all-time favorites, this is pretty disappointing news. What are your thoughts?
Related Articles
- » The Descent 2 Gets a Director
- » The Descent Review
- » Post Talladega Nights / Descent Opening Events
- » The Descent Director Neil Marshall's Next: Doomsday
- » Critiquing The Community Feeling At The Theater
- » Neil Marshall's Doomsday Trailer Launches!
Reader Feedback - 9 Comments »
1
I'm with you too Kevin. This news is not encouraging at all. It's starting to look like a straight to DVD release. I guess we'll see.
Spider on May 2, 2008
2
I agree… this is not looking good at all. I loved the first one, but I just think this is unnecessary. It may be better if Neil Marshall were directing, or even writing, but he doing neither. There is no way Juno could have lived so this is just all dumb… and I prefer the British ending so as far as I'm concerned, no one survived!
Jeff Warner on May 2, 2008
3
Didn't see the first. ……………….
I don't think I will watch the trailer for Descent 2
SHANE D on May 2, 2008
4
First one sucked anyway who cars about the second one
Davor on May 2, 2008
6
The first movie was great. I have to say it is one of the best horror movies I've seen in a very long time. What I'm reading about this though doesn't seem to aw inspiring. I agree if that is going to be the story line there are a lot of kinks to work out big time. Personally I think they should just let the movie be, there is no call or need for a sequel in anyway. There are those sequels where they put different people in a similar situation (Hills Have Eyes II or example), but I don't think this movie could even prosper from a sequel like that. So yea, leave it alone, let it be.
kdr on May 2, 2008
7
First one amazing. It seems kind of fake though because ANYONE who saw the first would realize that this would NEVER have happened.
Ryan on May 2, 2008
8
Having not seen the first movie, I can only assume it's a veiled reference to going down on a girl.
The actresses are pretty - pit them against more baddie nasties, turn down the theatre lights, and watch the popcorn fly.
God I love America.
Djo. on May 2, 2008
9
Descent 2? God why!?!? In the UK version she goes nuts and doesn't leave the cave. In the US version she goes nuts in the car. Either way There's NO WAY to come back from that level of crazy.
Then need to just leave this be.
jason_md2020 on May 3, 2008