HOME TRAILERS RELEASE DATES PODCASTS REVIEWS POSTERS INTERVIEWS BOB $TENCIL NEWS FEEDS ABOUT APPS

LATEST NEWS

Cameron's Underwater 3-D Drama 'Sanctum' Coming 2010

by Brandon Lee Tenney
September 10, 2009

To be directed by Alister Grierson from a script by Andrew Wight and John Garvin, and overseen by the wide, deep gaze of James Cameron, Sanctum has been co-purchased by Relativity and Universal, according to Variety today. Andrew Wight, a long-time associate of Cameron's who helped develop the 3-D technology seen in the documentaries like Aliens of the Deep and Ghosts of the Abyss, used his own death-defying experience as a catalyst for Sanctum. While leading a diving expedition miles into a system of underwater caves, a freak storm collapsed the entrance forcing Wight and his team to race to find another way out.

From what I can gather, this sounds like The Descent - but underwater. And in 3-D. Which isn't to say that's a bad thing. Especially having been co-written by the guy who actually experienced what must have been the most terrifying experience of his life (and, seriously, one of the most awful things I can ever imagine), I'm expecting a real amount of natural dread and terror. I'm also extremely excited to see an entirely underwater drama - again, especially knowing Cameron is the puppet master behind Sanctum and his love for the ocean and its mysteries is widely documented. But, there's the issue of it being in 3-D, which I've got to address.

With this, presumably, being shot mostly underwater, the experience is already novel. The colors already ethereal and different and interesting. So, why 3-D? I suppose it could provide some depth inside the underwater caverns, but - seriously, why 3-D? Set to film later this year for $30 million, look for Sanctum in late 2010. Tired of Cameron forever associated with 3-D yet? Or excited for an underwater drama like this?

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

JoJo

EXCITED!
Brad

Why 3-D? Why not? Everythings better in 3-D. Especially underwater.
joe

Very much excited .But only avatar's success will decide were will 3d go and it will be successful in my opinion.About watching the movie in 3d is concerned if the movie has a good emotional story that satisfies me I am ready to watch it in any format .
Gill

I saw the atrociously bad "The Final Destination" in 3D, and I've gotta say, some of the real stand-out 3D moments for me took place underwater. There's just something about the way objects can float around in water that makes them work in 3D (I suppose it's an excuse to have floating things coming out of the screen at you), not to mention the bubbles. Combine the immersiveness of 3D underwater scenes with the claustrophobia of "The Descent", and I think you've got a potentially amazing (and harrowing) movie. Looking forward to it.
beavis4play

it could be good if it's NOT a rehash of "the descent". i don't want to see them encountering underwater "cave ghoulies" or anything like that.
Silver

didn't i hear somewhere that Cameron is using 3d as a way to get people back to the movies
3D here to stay

Uh oh another 3D movie. Dont hate on this 3D Alex, its too early to tell. Give the movies a chance first.
Governor

Holy shit! We've seen enough of these kinds of films! Bring us something more creative!
Movie Fan

So...what's this got to do with James Cameron?
Ryan

@6 Yeah but the way we've been seeing 3D is just plainly awful, and nothing stands out.
Fed Up With Hollywood

So why 3-D?
DR DTX

"Made my fortune -but still turn out techno-horseshit fantasy for the circle-jerks" Cameron's latest 'daring' entry. Hollywood IS deadwood!
km22

Came across interesting article of the girl working on Sanctum as the stunt. See http://www.agnesmilowka.com
John Doe

3D is because we are trapped in three dimensions as humans when we are really Gods and the Jews that run Hollywood don't want us to know it. The more we think this false reality is real the less we will try to escape and reach higher planes of existence. You are falling perfectly into their plans by watching theses.