Sanctum
DIR: Alister Gierson. WRI: John Garvin, Andrew Wight. PRO: James Cameron. ED: Mark Warner. DES: Nicholas McCallum. CAST: Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhys Wakefield, Alice Parkinson
This film is based on a true story of being trapped for two days in a cave with fourteen other people by co-writer Andrew Wight. Unfortunately, the story does not translate well to screen.
There were moments watching this movie, when I questioned whether it was meant to be taken seriously as there are times when it really seems like a parody. The film is in 3D and visually stunning at times, it is a pity that the characters themselves are quite one dimensional however. The premise has potential for a nail-biting thriller but it all goes to waste with poor character development and highly predictible bare bones of a plot. The film is concerned with a group of underwater cave divers on a high risk expedition to the most challenging remote cave system in the world. It jumps straight into the action which gives us no time to identify with the characters.
Ioan Gruffudd gives a very disappointing performance as Carl, he was comical throughout the film in scenes that should have been chilling and moving. His character lacked any substance and was cringeworthy at times.
The representation of women in the movie is unsettling. The female characters are not just one dimensional they are overtly stereotypical. The two female characters who have ventured with the underwater cave diving team, one apparently an experienced diver, is depicted as too ballsy to the point that she exercises poor judgement that proves fatal. The other the “attractive girlfriend” character Victoria, played by unknown Alice Parkinson, is stereotypically squeamish when it counts and pays later for it yet has no problems getting physical caving, displaying her toned body. Victoria is a terrible character played unconvincingly by Parkinson. The message that derives from the representation of women is that they will fail if they attempt to do what the men do, no matter how tough they seem.
Ex-Home and Away actor Rhys Wakefield however does a decent job as Josh, the typical neglected teenage son character of the man leading the expedition, Frank played by Richard Roxburgh. Wakefield has plenty experience of teenage angst from Home and Away so it’s not a challenge here and has reasonable chemistry with Roxburgh, it would have been nice to see more of them before the expedition. Roxburgh is commanding as Frank, hyper masculine yet slowly reveals his vulnerable side as the film progresses but unfortunately we don’t get to know him enough to really connect with his character which is disappointing.
When a tropical storm hits after much foreshadowing, an intense fight for survival ensues as expected. There is gruesome imagery and difficult to watch moments courtesy of a lot of stunt doubles but unfortunately it was too difficult to really connect with the characters before to actually be moved when the team becomes smaller and smaller. The underlying fear of the team, that they will be trapped forever could have made for some powerful moments but it was all too predictable and anyone can foresee who will survive and who will not from the start of the film.
The 3D is impressive; I cannot imagine it being worth seeing not in 3D. A game after seeing the movie can be to list all the films it rips off! It is certainly action packed, intense and gore-tastic but if you are looking for anything more avoid…
Órla Walshe
Rated 15A (see IFCO website for details)
Sanctum is released on 4th February 2011
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgW7L2uq2VM[/youtube]
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Category: Cinema Reviews, Reviews
