Despite having characters as shallow as its caves are bottomless and a plot as predictable as /127 Hours/, this suspenseful actioner delivers seat-edge thrills in accomplished goggle-vision.
A survival-of-the-grittiest in a flood-imperilled pothole the size of Nibelheim.
Inventive despite slunky dialogue and sentimental father-son aspects.
Workmanlike suspenser, with plenty of cold water but sparse chills. When it comes to James Cameron scuba thrillers, The Abyss still has the edge.
The dazzlingly weird scenery and 3D prowess just about make up for the woeful dialogue.
3D effects can’t compensate for a plodding adventure.
James Cameron helped produce, but his storytelling flair is nowhere apparent.
It's a reasonable film, unpretentious in its way.
The director Alister Grierson handles the action just fine, but he's hauling along a script that's dead in the water.
While the 3D is passable and there are some moments of tension, Sanctum has big problems.
Stuck in a rut.
It's hard to imagine Avatar's legion of fans getting much out of this pitiful excuse for an action film beyond the comfortingly familiar mediocrity of its clunking screenplay.
It's ruthless, claustrophobic and rather less fun than the 1959 version of Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
Two parts Hydrogen and one Oxygen; James Cameron's recipe for disaster
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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