The Cave

This is a bog standard ‘B’ monster movie with a second-string cast (Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut, Piper Perabo, Lena Headey) and a second-hand plot. Set in an earthbound cave system, this is ‘Aliens’ by another name, but does not smell as sweet. It’s also uncannily similar to Neil Marshall’s ‘The Descent’, so if you’ve seen that don’t bother with this.Ignoring local legends about winged demons, the cave-diving team lead by Jack (Hauser) ploughs head-first into flooded sumps, claustrophobic crevices and freezing ice caves. Along for the ride are believable-but-attractive biologist Dr Kathryn Jennings (Headey) and her elderly mentor. Unfortunately for them, the cave’s unique, closed ecosystem has created a parasite which transforms its host into a sightless, raptor-like predator perfectly adapted to this lightless environment. The direction by Aussie first-timer Bruce Hunt is busy, jerky and messy – something is always going on, but nothing really happens. The only interest, therefore, comes from guessing who will get it first, or who will die the most gruesome death.