Entertainment Blog #146 | Sanctum [2011] - A Cave Expedition Goes Wrong...

When I was an intern, I was very friendly with who I worked with. So they were very friendly to me. That's when we got into sharing movies. Since I'm watching so many movies, I was basically the file server. But one day, one friend came and said he watched a movie by James Cameron on Facebook, which was great. I looked into it and seems like I've missed that one. This is about that movie..

Sanctum is a 2011 action-thriller film directed by Alister Grierson and produced by Andrew Wight, with James Cameron as the executive producer. So, actually, it's not 100% a James Cameron movie. The movie stars Richard Roxburgh, Rhys Wakefield, Alice Parkinson, Dan Wyllie, and Ioan Gruffudd. Set in the Esa'ala Cave in Papua New Guinea, the story follows a team of cave explorers who find themselves trapped underground amidst a severe storm.

Talking About The Story...

The film introduces us to Joshua "Josh" McGuire, a seventeen-year-old who, along with his father Frank, who is an experienced cave explorer. The expedition was funded by Carl Hurley. He and Carl's girlfriend Victoria also embarks on an exploration of the Esa'ala Cave. As the team delves deeper into uncharted territory, they encounter numerous challenges. Tragedy strikes when a member of the group, Judes, experiences a malfunction with her air tank hose, leading to a fatal accident. Josh, watching from the base camp, blames his father for her death, causing tension within the group.

Complicating things further, an approaching storm turns into a cyclone, causing instant floods that threaten to flood the cave. With communication disrupted, the team must find a way to escape this dangerous underwater caves before it's too late. As they navigate through dangerous conditions, facing cold water, injuries, and the loss of team members, they must gather all their strength and resources to survive.

My Experience..

From a personal perspective, Sanctum offers a fascinating background with the potential for extreme thrills. The underwater cave setting adds a unique and visually irresistible element to the action sequences. The film effectively captures the fear of trapping in a small space with no air and the dangerous nature of cave exploration, making the audience feel the characters' desperate struggle for survival. However, the movie falls short in terms of character development and emotional connections, as the script fails to fully dig into the individual backstories and motivations of the characters.

Ratings..

Sanctum received mixed reviews from critics. While the film was praised for its visually stunning 3D cinematography and effective use of technology, critics found fault with the screenplay and the performances. The script was criticized for being too much predictable and lacking depth, while the cast was considered lacking in emotional depth. The film's strengths lie mainly in its fascinating visuals and the realistic description of the dangers faced by cave divers.

Despite its mixed critical reception, Sanctum managed to achieve reasonable box office success, grossing $108 million worldwide. It mainly performed well internationally and ranked as one of the top ten highest-grossing Australian films at the international box office at the time of its release.

In conclusion, Sanctum is an action-thriller that impresses with its visually unique 3D cinematography and thrilling description of the dangers faced by cave divers. While it may not reach the heights of its potential due to weak character development and a predictable screenplay, it still manages to deliver an immersive experience for viewers. If you appreciate visually stunning adventure movies, Sanctum can offer an exciting and visually engaging journey into the depths of exploration and survival.