It’s been four years since the fantastic British horror film The Descent was released so for me, the sequel had a lot to live up to and after such a gap in time I was unsure if it could live up to it’s predecessor. If you are unfamiliar with The Descent, the story revolves around a group of friends who go potholing on an adventure holiday but they soon realize they are exploring wrong cave system and become trapped inside. While trying to find a way out they realize there’s something down in the darkness waiting for them.

So for all of you up to date, the sequel seamlessly continues from the first film. Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) has made it out of the caves and is now in hospital with no memory of the horrors she just endured, answering your inevitable question of why she agrees to go back down. So while we’re all screaming at the screen and pulling our hair out, Sarah, a team of caving experts, the local sheriff and another officer start the descent into the caves to try and find her lost friends. As Sarah hits the bottom of cave system the flash backs start and she starts to remember. By the time she realizes it was all real and not a nightmare it is too late and the fight to survive starts again.

Inevitably, one of the major problems a writer or director will face when making a sequel is how to recapture the fear we had first time round. Most sequels don’t make the cut (pun not intended) but The Descent Part 2 has pulled it off fantastically. The Descent is actually at a disadvantage because it is a monster film and as we’ve already seen the creature we know what to expect. I think we’ve all at one time felt utter disappointment in the past when the monster is revealed and it’s just not that scary (Jeepers Creepers anyone?). Well luckily the creatures in The Descent are hideous and incredibly frightening and The Descent: Part 2 not only recaptures that initial fear we had, but manages to make it more terrifying.

The Descent Part 2 follows the clichéd movie sequel rules: it has more violence, more gore and more gross out scenes than the first. We know what’s coming it’s just a matter of when and new director Jon Harris manages to time it right so that we’re all jumping out of our seats in unison. Whereas the first film may have been a slow starter to build up tension, we are thrust in to the action from the get go with this one.

I have to say this film is incredibly stressful to watch. We know there are bat-like creatures down there, just waiting for their next meal and we know any noise will attract them. It takes all your will not to shout at the screen “Get out! Get out! And shut up!!” Not to mention how claustrophobic this film is. In the darkness of the theatre you are involved with the team, it is like you are there.

We get a better look at these deformed human-bat creatures, with all their oozing mouths and blank-blind eyes, it’s really chilling to see them up close. The make up and special effects for these creatures is phenomenal and a joy to watch. Well if you can call oozing creatures a “joy”, this is about as close as you’ll get. The use of the night vision cameras is also great technique to make the audience feel like they’re in the caves with them.

Shauna Macdonald reprises her role of Sarah fantastically, she doesn’t have much dialogue but her eyes show the pain she’s suffered, and although at first she is timid, weak and confused, back in the darkness she becomes that bad ass chick we saw in the first film. The best thing about this film though is that you’re never sure exactly what will happen and it will keep you guessing as to what will happen until the very end.

This is a great follow up to the original and has a great ending that leaves you wanting more, in that sick perverted way a good horror film is meant to. It’s got suspense, gore and is well written so that fans of the original will not be disappointed. It’s definitely worth seeing but I am implore you to watch the first one if you haven’t already!