Sanctum (2011)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Sorry, this movie sucks

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The only reason this film gained traction was due to Cameron having his name attached as executive producer. Remove that, and I doubt many would've seen this, proving that a glorified name drop is still a tangible marketing technique. Alas, this cave diving expedition becomes washed up rather rapidly, descending into a spiral of predictable clichés. Based on co-writer Wight's own experience, an expedition exploring an underwater cave system goes awry after an unpredictable cyclone floods the hollow. Transforming what looked like a made-for-TV documentary into a made-for-TV disaster survival film. It's unfortunate that the monotonous acting, dull expendable characters, obvious green screen, predictable plot and impersonal screenplay resulted in a low quality film that has all the aesthetic appeal of a TV release. The cinematic scope is only upheld by the breathtaking underwater sequences, where O'Loughlin's cinematography really shines amidst the murky depths. A few scenes of tension as individuals burrow through tight passageways or attempt to flee the flooding caverns, but it's not enough to overcome the incredibly obvious flaws that have not made the film age well. The disposable crew reek of stupidity. When a renowned cave diving expert commands "you need to wear the wet suit" and you reluctantly reply "I'm not putting it on", well your life expectancy has diminished substantially. "Don't use the knife", she uses the knife. "Don't shine your torch at her", he shines the torch at her. I understand the heightened state of mind, but these lines of advice should've been adhered to and consequently result in characters that you don't relate to. Actions have consequences. Also thrown into the mix is a clichéd collapsed father and son relationship that, whilst provide some emotional moments and is well acted by Roxburgh, feels far too forced. The inevitable character deaths weren't memorable, obvious green screen is obvious (like really obvious) and Grierson's direction was rather lacklustre. The mediocrity kept pouring in.

Such a great movie!to be honest, I never expected this! I just thought it wasn't going to be a good movie... at all. But when the movie began to play, i just got drowned into this! The way everything is filmed and brought up, I never saw that coming...David Cameron, along with his crew, did a great job here!I also liked the actors and the relations, the drama...The somehow strange relation between Frank and Carl, as well as the way Carl is acting towards everyone, just amazing...Everyone's strength and willingness to secure the lives of those around them, so special, so emotional...Great job guys

...by the dialogue. Specifically, the foul language that permeated the dialogue.Visually, this is an excellent movie. The story is exciting, although it was sort of like Poseidon Adventure in the culling of the group. This movie was well acted. I appreciated the Carl character as a self-centered, rich guy, out for the latest thrill. The part was played that way, and done well.I appreciate Roxburgh as an actor. Any part he plays, he seems to exude a certain air of superiority. He was excellent as the ramrod of the expedition.Victoria was hard to figure. However, in the end, she became a whiny little girl, who listened to nobody, and died because of it.The evolution of the relationship between father and son was done well. The young actor looked a little like Randy Orton, of WWE fame. It was bittersweet.The whole movie would have been much easier to watch, if not for the penchant of all to curse at the drop of a hat. Contrary to popular belief, it. Is not a sign of maturity. Rather,it is a sign of immaturity.

SANCTUM was shot in 3-D and produced by James Cameron and yet I had no recollection of seeing any of its trailers or of it hitting the cinema in Britain which leads me to conclude it was something of a flop , It's easy to see how difficult it was to market to a potential audience . As the true life tale of 127 HOURS showed man against the elements type movie shows that this type of adventure probably doesn't lend itself to cinema hence we got a highly dubious and apocryphal tale of someone in the audience fainting during a pivotal scene . There's also the aspect that this type of story would make a subject for a good documentary on The Discovery Channel As it stands SANCTUM is fiction so there's plenty of room for what's known as artistic license . Here the production misses the opportunity to do so . For the first third we're introduced to the characters and what an unlovable bunch they are , almost all exclusively arrogant control freaks and one or two who border on violent sociopath material , just the sort of people you would happily go pot holing with . Especially if something nasty happens down there and you have to entrust your life to them . Sure enough .....I'll say one thing in its favour and that is I didn't have high hope for the film in the first half hour but when the mayhem started it does start taking off in a rather brutal and nihilistic way . You have to overlook one or two things such the cinematic convention that a subterranean cave always has enough light in order for the audience to see what's happening and of course no chance of a rescue party ever being sent out . But despite these flaws which are very common in these type of movies SANCTUM is a tough tale where people have to battle amongst themselves along with nature in order to survive