10 Things You Didn't Know About The Descent
Spelunking for the finest facts from Britain's finest horror film.
Released back on March 15th 2005, The Descent is one of the most widely celebrated adventure horror films of all time, and one of the finest British releases in the modern era.
Following the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter, the film follows Sarah Carter as she and her five friends go on a spelunking adventure in North Carolina. Directed by Neil Marshall, the film is one of the most genuinely claustrophobic and physically uncomfortable to watch, with impressive practical sets being built to allow for the tight shots that make an audience feel as trapped as the characters.
As well as the claustrophobia and eventual attacks from the caves' native inhabitants, the film is also an exploration of paranoia and how even the tightest of groups react when in peril. The growing distrust and general descent (hence the name) into insanity the group goes through is a remarkably gritty thing to watch, but also one of the most compelling in the horror genre.
The film is a genuine classic and an absolute go-to for so many reasons, but here are some things even some of the most dedicated of fans might have missed out on.
10. The Vampire Connection
Each of The Descent's cast members and characters have become iconic in the horror community, however what has been less picked up on over the years is the growing link between them and the world of vampires...
Juno's actor, Natalie Mendoza, played China Doll in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge, a film that starred Ewan McGregor who had appeared in Black Hawk Down with Josh Hartnett. Hartnett famously played Eben Oleson in the vampire horror film, 30 Days of Night. Nora-Jane Noone, who plays Holly in The Descent, was in Day of The Triffids alongside Eddie Izzard who famously played Gustav van Wangenheim in the film Shadow of the Vampire.
But wait, there's more.
Rebecca's actor, Saskia Mulder, appears in the Urban Gothic episode Vampirology, which revolves around a film crew following a vampire named Rex. MyAnna Buring, who plays Sam in The Descent, plays the vampire Tanya Denali in the final two Twilight films, neither of which are stand out films for their day.
And finally Beth's actor, Alex Reid, was in the show Misfits, alongside Robert Sheehan. Sheehan was also famously in Season of the Witch which also just so happened to feature the most legendary vampire of all time, Christopher Lee -aka Count Dracula.