Sanctum | C

Sanctum is a thriller loosely based on the real-life experiences of the film's co-writer, cave diver Andrew Wight. While the jungles and rock formations of Papua New Guinea are beautifully shot, the mediocre script and weak supporting cast squander the film's potential.

Sanctum tells the story of a group of explorers, led by veteran Frank (Richard Roxburgh, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) who are mapping one of the last unknown caves on earth. Frank's rebellious son Josh (Rhys Wakefield, The Black Balloon) and benefactor Carl (Ioan Gruffudd, Fantastic Four) later join him down in the cave. Shortly after they arrive, a powerful storm hits the area earlier than expected, and the caverns begin to flood. With their only known exit blocked by a fallen boulder, Frank, Josh and the others must push on deeper into the cave to find another way out.

Despite the overall movie being second-rate, some aspects of Sanctum are surprisingly well done, the highlight being Alister Grierson's (Kokoda) direction. Grierson, along with cinematographer Jules O'Loughlin, masterfully frame nearly ever shot in the movie. The decisions they make regarding the lighting, cuts and camera angles all service the vibe of each scene and the spirit of the film overall. Strength also comes in the form of the performances of the three leads. Wakefield, Roxburgh and Gruffudd all give convincing, emotional performances in spite of the inadequate script.

Unfortunately, the worst part of this film is also arguably the most important— the screenplay. The dialogue throughout the entire first half of the film is dull and doesn't sound realistic. The second half gets a little better, if only because there are less characters speaking. While the lead actors succeed, the supporting actors fail. Perhaps it is more the script's fault. Yet, the actors with the least screen time also put in the least effort.

In the end, with its stunning natural splendor, poor script and some lackluster performances, Sanctum almost feels like a Discovery Channel special as opposed to a feature film. While the direction was excellent, it simply could not make up for its other shortcomings.