Film Snail

Sanctum
Sanctum

6.1

Sanctum

R·2011·108m

Summary

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.

Crew

Director

Alister Grierson

Writer

Andrew Wight

Writer

John Garvin

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

June 4, 2014

7

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

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$30,000,000.00

Revenue:

$108,609,310.00

Keywords

expedition
cave
based on true story
scuba diving
papua new guinea
hypothermia
cave diving
underwater cave
father son relationship