Directed by Alister Grierson. Starring Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhys Wakefield. 2/5
As an avid scuba diver, I was expecting big things from Alister Grierson's new film, Sanctum. Produced by James Cameron, it looked set to be an action movie of epic proportions; sadly, I was underwhelmed. Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd and Rhys Wakefield star as part of a group of cave divers who are on an expedition in South America. When an unexpected cyclone floods the entrance of the cave, the divers become trapped inside. With no hope of rescue, they are forced to travel further into the depths of the cave, hoping to find a way out.
The movie’s enticingly original concept was ruined by poor acting, over-dramatisation and a terrible score. It loses a lot of credibility due to the fact that the actors have absolutely no conviction when delivering their lines. Though Wakefield and Roxburgh are engaging and the father-son dynamic between their characters is honest and moving, Roxburgh tends to overact his“hardass”persona and Gruffudd's American accent was simply unbearable.
Perhaps James Cameron's ego had too much to do with the film. Rather than focusing on the serene beauty of the underwater environs and going for a more organic feel, Cameron and Grierson have tried to turn the film into a summer blockbuster, which is exactly what it's not, instead ending up a confused dichotomy of fleeting action and enduring boredom. While the action itself is gripping, the transition from scene to scene is boring and unengaging. Rather than being used to accentuate certain scenes, the ever-present score serves only to glorify and trivialise the action.
The film has some fantastic scenes of action and suspense and is visually very satisfying, but the poor acting and Cameron-esque melodrama ruin what could have been a brilliant piece.
Sanctum
