Sanctum 4K 2011

“Sanctum” is by no means the kind of movie that at first glance might seem like a story about a single group of people fighting for survival. It is more than that, however disconcerting the numerous rough edges may be. Amidst the usual seeming hostility with impending doom, somewhere in the depths unfolds a quest to defend the belief in one's own self. A faith in the search for oneself.

While the sad part of this picture is its same-old promotional push, Cameron should still be given credit for providing the technical backbone to realize this entire story so badly needed that very support. By virtue of their own creative abilities, the filmmakers completely drain the film in those moments when they have to prove themselves in something they never specialized in. That's why the first twenty minutes seem sluggish, after which the picture begins to change dramatically as soon as we dive into the essence of the idea itself.

Trying to justify the essential miscasting with a couple of glaring exceptions, it is worth noting the constraint in one's abilities, when not every actor is suitable for you to do such a thing on the set. And here an important role is played precisely by physical data. However, the recreation of each individual atmosphere in this or that fragment, gives drama to especially critical moments in the lives of all the members of the team, which periodically calls the viewer to impulsive interest.

Tension rises as the immersion grows, with the father-son relationship being the most vividly portrayed. The whole movie is carried on his broad and strong shoulders by Richard Roxburgh, demonstrating the truly natural strength of the Australian character with all the appropriate charisma. Compared to him, the rest of the cast looks many times worse, except for individual outbursts of minor characters.

Despite the obvious thought hovering in your head before viewing about possible monotony, you soon become convinced of the opposite. In everything that happens, as soon as one's attention begins to focus specifically, one immediately begins to grasp a certain amount of predictability, wondering what this character is waiting for, leaving one's heart with only the expectation of a dramatic finale. But be that as it may, it's always hard to imagine what and who is waiting somewhere out there, beyond that bump. Moreover, the demonstration of professional skills only adds to the heartfelt feeling. And the humor inherent in Australian divers sooner or later receives a warm welcome, despite the categorical rejection in the first minutes.