Review
Apparently writer/director Olatunde Osunsanmi saw Neil Marshall's The Descent, as evidenced in his film The Cavern, a dime store copycat cave horror flick that would be entirely forgettable if not for it's shocking finale. Most everything in the production screams indie horror, which isn't a bad thing as long as the filmmakers are bringing something new to the table. Sadly, there is very little remarkable content provided within the 81 minute running time (which actually adds up to around 75 without the credits!). The filmmakers touted new digital photography as being a strong asset to the film, but half of the shots just look as if they were filmed against a black curtain instead of a real cave. This is no doubt chalked up to their reliance on source lighting (another tip of the hat to The Descent), though compound that with muffled sound design and worthless characters and it all doesn't amount to much. There is a light at the end of the cave, per se, and that is it's no holds barred ending, which is both disturbing and bravely abrupt. If that level of shocking violence was hinted at leading up to that point, then The Cavern might hold a bit of worth as a whole. As it is now, it's questionable how much of the audience will stay to the end, even if it contains enough grisly gore to satisfy the most eager to please blood hounds. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
On the DVD
Director's commentary
"Within the Cavern - A Video Journal"
"Caverns of the Mojave: An Expedition With Real Cavers"
Storyboard gallery
Trailer gallery
