Sanctum 2011

The only way out is down.

6.044 / 10   998 vote(s)
R
Action Thriller

Master diver Frank McGuire has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team—including 17-year-old son Josh and financier Carl Hurley are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out.

Release Date 2011-02-03
Runtime 1h 48m
Directors Alister Grierson, Jules O'Loughlin, Wade Savage
Producers Michael Finley, Andrew Wight, Ineke Majoor, James Cameron
Writers John Garvin, Andrew Wight

A private place from which most people are excluded…

Much was made during the publicity and promotion for Sanctum of James Cameron’s name being attached, understandably so. Sanctum is what it is, a glossy exercise in 3D film making, a disaster movie awash with clichés and contrivances, a picture that’s narrative drive comes from following a well worn formula in this particular sphere of genre film making. Is it fun? Thrilling? Oh absolutely! The effects work is super at times, the scenery equally so, whilst some of the set pieces are dynamite. If you can get past the cheese and cliché buffet bar then there’s a whole bunch of tasty treats to be sampled down in those dark and dingy cave formations…

It’s directed by Alister Grierson but in truth this is a Cameron movie, and with that comes the fact that it’s the best and worst of Cameron. Take that as you will… 6.5/10

John Chard