Review: Sanctum

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Sanctum

If all you've seen of Sanctum is in the TV spots, you probably think as I did that it was directed by James Cameron. His name is all over it, along with "3D Experience," "Titanic" and "Avatar." That's not surprising, given the virtually unknown director (Alister Grierson) and cast. The most recognizable faces here are Richard Roxburgh, best known as the Duke in Moulin Rouge, and Ioan Gruffudd, who has a steady following for his role as Horatio Hornblower and for playing Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four movies. If you watch the trailer (and I strongly recommend against that, as it spoils some of the most striking moments in the film), the words "executive producer" do appear above Cameron's name, but it feels almost like rewatching Avatar.

I expected Sanctum to be a grand 3D adventure shot with the same fantastic technology as Avatar. Instead, the moviequickly began to feel more like a combination of Alive and Jurassic Park (even using the phrase "spared no expense"). The 3D work at the beginning of the film was difficult to watch, forcing me at times to close one eye or another due to rapid close-up movement and shifts in perspective. Once everything had moved underground to more confined spaces, it became bearable and allowed me to focus on the action.

And the action is where Sanctum really excels. The one word I could grasp to describe the film was "tense," but tense also describes how I felt. I can't recall a movie that has ever had me wound so tight, feeling so claustrophobic, or so relieved when the characters manage to navigate a particular hazard. I don't know if it was the result of the 3D work (doubt it) or the fantastic sound work (probably) or the practical effects (likely), but the mood was one of heightened intensity. To that effect, Sanctum is an unprecedented success. For this technical achievement, the cast and crew must have spent an enormous amount of time in merciless conditions.

As did co-writer Andrew Wight, upon whose experience the film is based. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find any specific account of his ordeal except that he was trapped while cave diving with 14 other people who had to search for an alternate exit. If Sanctum were to be believed literally, one should never go adventuring with women, because they don't listen to instructions, and they panic at the worst possible times. Also, rich American financiers are selfish and greedy.

The story here is where many critics will be ripping Sanctum apart. It really feels as though they could have taken the cast of Jurassic Park and stuck them in a cave. Roxburgh is the Sam Neill character, who knows exactly what to do, if everyone would just listen to him. Gruffudd is the most annoying American ever caught on film and combines Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Malcom with Richard Attenborough's John Hammond, a rich, selfish rockstar. Beyond that, however, we're given precious little to know about each character. I know of one in particular that seems to disappear much like that cameraman in last year's Piranha 3D.

Reflecting on the movie later, it occurred to me besides the weak characters, the biggest failing in the script is that almost every "really bad thing" that happens is a direct and immediate result of someone doing exactly the opposite of what they're told to do. As killer caves go, this one is relatively benign, but the situation gets more and more dire as people continue to be completely boneheaded. This would be easy to believe, except these people are the most skilled, trained and experienced adventurers on the planet. A character who has climbed Mt. Everest has trouble with the cold and then doesn't know how to handle a malfunction with climbing gear, for instance. You get the feeling if everyone had just listened and done exactly as they were told, they could have all walked together out of the cave.

Story aside, I was so caught up in the action of Sanctum I had to force myself to breathe. Frank (Roxburgh) and his son Josh (Rhys Wakefield) were solid parts and the bulk of the script centered on their rocky (no pun intended) relationship. Strained at first, their bonds solidify as they rely on each other to find their way out of the cave. Taken as a whole, Sanctum is a rehash of familiar story elements paired with breathtaking action that together are quite satisfying.