Sanctum

One of those genuine stinkers that come along once in a while and really make you appreciate just how BAD films can get.

A group of one dimensional 'characters' get trapped in a cave system when a freak storm moves in over their expedition. As they struggle to survive and find a way to escape to safety the dangers of the cave system emerge.

Although there are brief flashes of good cinematography and diving photography this is filled with wooden actors delivering hamfisted lines of dialogue like it was their first ever day on a film set. I quickly got to the point I was actively waiting for each of them to meet their fate, and that's never where you want to be watching a film.

Most of the reviews here are highly critical, but to be honest, i think they are a little harsh. No it isnt oscar material, but i felt it was tense, well shot, and got across to the viewer, the sheer claustrophobia and dangers involved in cave diving. The acting was ok, given the relatively unknown cast, not brilliant, but acceptable. I get the impression that all the negative reviews were from people who saw the name, james cameron on the cover, and automatically assumed it would be like an underwater avatar with regards to budget and scale, which clearly isnt the case. Definately worth a look at under a fiver, so long as you realise what it is about, and that it is essentially a low budget film.

this film is very boring until the last 25 mins and then it dose'nt improve that much.
acting is ok.but like a lot of other reviews you kinda know whats coming.
not for my collection.

Superb Sets, Superb filming, this was an opportunity to make the definitive diving movie.
A good cast of actors who were let down by such a poor script, they never had a chance, no emotion, very sterile, in no way could I immerse myself.
The storyline was so predictable, it was like a suspense movie from the 70's where you just know who is going to die next.
Ok Saturday afternoon TV film, way below the standard expected of modern 3D Hollywood.

The dangers of Cave diving has never been brought so vividly to life in this James Cameron produced thriller, but although the cave system the team endever to conqueor may be deep, the characterisation and plot in the film is anything but. The characters are one dimentional caracture's from the rich obnoxious team leader all the way to the comic relief that might aswell have targets on their backs as you know who is goona get killed as soon as they walk on screen, this leads to some bouts of head scratching diologue " The cave is my church" ???? The acting on the whole is so wooded the cast could float to the surface.
But in the cinema version this movie kicks into gear whent James Cameron gets out his new 3D toy the movie exploded into top gear.
In the cinema version the 3D underwater sequences to the silver air pockets are amazing to view, the waterfall felt like they could spray your face and as bodies plummet in the caverns it was actually a very unnerving experience.
But at home in 2D it looses the impact and although the 2D is still impressive it makes this thriller feel even more ordinary.
You can see that Cameron did have a firm grip on the production as he does tick all the right boxes in the science fact department much the same way he did with 1989's The Abyss such as decompression sickness and hypothermia.
Sanctum is a good thriller in 3D that papered over the obvious cracks in writing, but once the movie lost the third dimention the faults are more obvious and you'll be left with just an exciting cave diving thriller.
See if you like.....
The Descent 1 & 2.
The Cave.
Vertical Limit.
K2.
Into the Blue.
Paradise lost.
The Abyss.