Sanctum (Movie Review)

Sanctum is a survival action thriller that boasts a high-concept premise but fails to deliver. Despite the name attached to the production, this film sinks under the weight of clichéd dialogue and lackluster execution. It is a cautionary tale about how 3D gimmicks cannot salvage a generic script.

James Cameron executive produces this story based on real events. It follows a team of underwater cave divers on a treacherous expedition to an inaccessible cave system. When a tropical storm forces them deep into the caverns, they must fight raging water and creeping panic.

Master diver Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) has explored the South Pacific’s Esa-ala Caves for months. A flash flood cuts off his exit, trapping his team. This group includes his 17-year-old son Josh (Rhys Wakefield) and financier Carl Hurley (Ioan Gruffudd).

Drowning in Disaster Clichés

These types of movies are not new to the screen. The 1970s were famous for disaster films like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. Those films focused on characters attempting to escape catastrophe.

The premise of Sanctum is conceptually interesting. The involvement of Cameron and the promise of IMAX 3D serve as great bait. However, the story relies heavily on bad acting and recycled lines.

The film was shot on a budget of $30 million, which pales in comparison to the budget Cameron spent on Avatar. Australian director Alister Grierson manages the production. This is only his second picture, and the inexperience shows in the B-movie quality.

Sanctum was not shot on film, and the difference is obvious. The digital look clashes with the special effects rendering of the caves. Yet, credit must be given to anyone directing underwater sequences for half a movie.

A Dim and Muffled Experience

The 3D experience felt subpar. During an IMAX screening, the sound felt distant rather than immersive. The visuals also suffered from technical issues common to the format.

The light of the film kept penetrating the darkness of the glasses, producing an irritable sensation during key scenes. Swiveling my head was the only way to find a viewing angle that did not bother me. It was not a hardware issue, as other films like Sci-Fi releases did not present this problem.

Between the sound and the imagery, the film fails to mesmerize the senses. It turns what should be a spectacle into a chore. The technology hinders the enjoyment rather than aiding it.

Dialogue That Gasps for Air

Also perforating my ears was the dialogue from writers John Garvin and Andrew Wight. When characters are engulfed by the ocean, the audience needs engaging interaction to sustain interest. This was not the case here.

Trite, cornball words were the order of the day. Aside from the script, the film had mixed results visually. Highlights included the sights of the cave and the underwater sequence shots.

Richard Roxburgh delivers a solid performance. He bears a striking resemblance to Stellan Skarsgård in both look and intensity. The pacing of the first 40 minutes takes its time to flesh out the characters properly.

Missing the Monster

The film establishes the villains and heroes effectively in the first act. It manages to hold interest while the setup lasts. However, Act II introduces lousy acting into the action scenes.

Disaster films of the past used heavyweight actors to give credibility to the chaos. Overall, this is a B-list cast, excluding veterans Roxburgh and Gruffudd. The dramatic moments are cheesy and painful to watch.

Wakefield’s character is a vexing figure throughout the film. He possesses a righteous personality that, combined with histrionic acting, results in an aggravating viewing experience. The tension remains paltry at best.

There are no monsters, killer sharks, or hungry piranhas here. I expected an unknown creature lurking in the murky cold below. Even the soundtrack fails to create a suspenseful cinematic atmosphere.

Ultimately, Sanctum does not live up to expectations. With the high cost of 3D and IMAX tickets, this experience belongs in the deep, unexplored bottoms of the Earth.