The Cave (2006, DVD)

This is a hell of a good movie! I really enjoyed it for a low budget movie it was really good. Go out and rent it not a waste of money.

Story Line:
A group of cave-divers and scientists explore a newly found cave system in Romania. However, rockfall blocks the exit and after delving further into the cave, the group discover a pack of deadly creatures are waiting for them. With their leader Jack (Cole Hauser) having very strange side-effects and with their numbers dropping, the group must delve even further into the cave, battle the creatures and hope for an exit.

This movie features some of the best sets we've ever seen in a movie. The set design, the props, the colors, everything that is visual about this movie is incredible. This is the definition of cotton candy, right here. Brilliant images fill the screen from start to finish. And since not many movies are set underwater or within caves, many of the sets look exotic and otherworldly, which is all the more reason the visuals are so appealing. Unfortunately, for the aninal/monsters in the movie, is not displayed/shown enough, for us to get a picture in our head what they look like. Probably a cut-back on special effects.

The Cave" is a subpar action-horror with a bunch of slimy, fanged monsters stalking and/or eating a group of young, attractive explorers. It features pretty much all of the cliches you'd expect from an action-horror and doesn't really try to break the mold. This wouldn't be a problem, necessarily, if the script and acting and direction were at least done well. Unfortunately, they aren't.

There are only two good actors in the whole movie: Cole Hauser and Daniel Dae Kim. The latter is on screen for about ten minutes, total, and for six of those minutes he just runs around screaming. Not a great opportunity to show off talent. Hauser does a decent job, but the character he has to play is ludicrous and his lines are laughable, so you don't really notice his performance half the time.

The screenplay is aggravating. We are told, in the beginning of the movie, that these characters are professionals and scientists, but they speak like losers. For example, when they first go into The Cave, Blonde Girl screams, "Totally awesome!" While this is certainly the sentiment that comes to mind when seeing the set, you might think that a scientist would be able to say something a bit more intelligent. Unfortunately, the dialogue stays around that same level of sophistication throughout.

Dr. Hot Chick explains that they are dealing with a species that evolved in total isolation. Uh, okay, don't know how she surmised all of that from exactly ten seconds of observing a claw, but then why would the monster be a parasite? Isn't it a little bit contradictory for a parasite to live in an environment where there isn't much life to leech off of?

And if the animals are predators, then why are they also parasites? Shouldn't they just be eating the humans instead of infecting them and transforming them? Do the monsters act like vampires and get to choose who transforms and who just turns into food? And if they don't, then how have the monsters lived for so long in The Cave? After a bazillion years in isolation, shouldn't everything be infected, and consequently they would've died from starvation? Or are they cannibals?

If you liked 'Core', "Deep Sea Blue', then this is the film you would want to add in your dvd collection. Unlike for some people, who have given negative reviews on this film, we find this movie very entertaining, and satisfying to this thirsty sci-horror movie.