Spelunking is nightmare fuel for me. Tight spaces, pure darkness and creepy crawlies that never see the light of day. It might not be the usual fare for horror flicks, but it's the setting for one of my favorite horror movies of all time.
When a group of friends goes exploring a local cave system, they're prepared for the claustrophobia of tons of rock pressing down around them, but not for the devilish monsters hiding within dark tunnels.
The Descent is a 2006 horror flick you can watch for free with a Prime Video subscription. A cult classic infused with hints of terror in every frame, this movie has struck fear into the hearts of audiences for nearly 20 years.
I've been a fan of horror movies since the 1980s, starting with classics like Pumpkinhead. Over time, I've found some that I keep coming back to, even when I know how they're going to end. The Descent is absolutely one of them.
The Descent delivers a claustrophobic, dread-filled experience. If you don't like tight spaces, it's even worse. Every time I watch, the deadly disaster has me covering my eyes and screaming as events spiral out of control.
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The movie starts at the conclusion of a whitewater rafting trip, where six women have been bonding and having a great time. On the drive home, the lead character, Sarah, loses her husband and their daughter in a car accident that shatters her world. That tragedy sets the tone for the entire movie, warning viewers that things are only going to get worse.
What starts as a fun friends' adventure quickly dissolves into madness and terror. Celador Films / Pathé Distribution
A year after the deadly car crash, the six friends reunite for another adventure. Their plan is to spend a day spelunking in a North Carolina cave system in the Appalachian Mountains. Things start off fine, but then Sarah becomes stuck in a particularly narrow passage. She manages to squirm through, but a rockfall behind her leaves all of the women trapped deep underground with no idea how to get out.
One of the friends, Juno, then admits that they're not in the exact cave system she'd reported to local authorities, but instead in a never-before-explored section. They're entirely on their own, with no hope of help.
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