The Devil Below

 3/4

Starring: Alicia Sanz, Adan Canto, Will Patton, Zach Avery, Chinaza Uche, Jonathan Sadowski

Not Rated (probable R for Horror Violence and Language)

If you're going to borrow, then borrow from the best.  As the saying goes.  And when it comes to horror movies, few are better to steal from than "The Descent."

Professional guide Arianne (Sanz) is about embark on her latest assignment.  Four scientists have hired her to help them locate a mining facility that was abandoned overnight.  They're a varied bunch: the heartthrob Darren (Canto) is the leader, Terry (Sadowski) is his right hand man, Shawn (Uche) is the nerd, and Jaime (Avery) is the security.  Ominous things start happening almost immediately.  Modern maps are useless, the locals are hostile, and someone tries to run them off the road.  But these intrepid explorers are do reach their destination.  And almost as soon as they get there, they will wish they hadn't.

The first hour is so reminiscent of Neil Mashall's masterpiece that a cynic would call it a rip-off.  Personally I think homage is more appropriate.  The film recalls the 2006 film without mimicking it.  Plus, once the film shows its cards, it takes things in a new direction.  Only the set-up, and to a lesser extent, the atmosphere, is the same.  The characters and the situation are much different.

Name actors don't usually star in horror movies, and this is no different.  The biggest name in the cast is Will Patton, a character actor who used to appear in a lot of movies during the 90s, but hasn't been in many big movies for fifteen years.  As usual, he's strictly a supporting character.  The leads are Alicia Sanz and Adan Canto.  Arianne is meant to be the tough girl in the mold of Sarah Connor or Ellen Ripley. Unfortunately, she has neither the talent nor the presence to pull it off.  Arianne is rather boring.  Her co-star Adan Canto is another matter.  He's butch, charming and a much better actor.  The film would have had a stronger emotional center with him at its nexus.

Director Bradley Parker does everything he can to keep the energy level high.  He understands that in a movie like this, slowing down is not an option.  He gives the film a relentless pace; once it stops, it rarely slows down.  He also has some skill with jump scares.  I gasped and put my hand over my mouth a few times.  What he lacks is the skill to take the film to the next level.  His shot selection is pedestrian and the cinematography doesn't have the intimacy needed for true horror.  But this is a solid job.

"The Devil Below" is a solid summer chiller.  It has a lot of energy and some peak thrills, shocks and scares.  It's moves fast, keeps the adrenaline high and is a bit dumb.  All the good things a monster movie needs.  This is a movie that is built for a late night sleepover with friends.

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