“The Cave” (Screen Gems)
Despite a strong collection of second string actors, “The Cave” can not overcome its sluggishness to emerge a winner. And despite a group of “alien” looking critters the movie’s chill factor is not on a high level. There are a few scares but not enough to keep you in dread throughout the film and that is all a movie like this has going for it. The higher the fright factor the more enjoyable the film.
In “The Cave” a team of scientists and adventurers go to Romania to explore a cavern located deep beneath the surface. Jack (Cole Hauser) is the leader of the group, and he is the most knowledgeable when it comes to cave exploring. His brother Tyler (Eddie Cibrian) is more of a risk taker.
Others on the team include Charlie (Piper Perabo) and Buchanan (Morris Chestnut). Then there is the beautiful scientist Katherine (Lena Headey) who is attracted to Tyler. There are other assorted members of the team who you know will be the first to go when the monsters inside the cavern attack.
Chestnut was one of the stars of the film “Anacondas” which was released a year or so ago, and this is the same type of movie. You have a group of people in a secluded situation. Add in a monster (alien creature, giant snake, whatever) and have it pick off the people one by one. Of course you have to have a survivor or two in case you want a sequel.
The monster creatures in this movie look just like the one in “Alien,” but there is a twist as to what created them. That twist is the only inventive part of the screenplay.
Hauser makes a strong leading man, Cibrian is a hunk for the ladies, Headey provides a love interest, and Chestnut provides some brawn. The acting is more reacting to the monsters than anything else and that is done sufficiently by all the actors.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence. Perhaps an R rating would have allowed for more thrills, and therefore made a better movie.
“The Cave” isn’t a bad movie, but it isn’t mammoth either. It just kind of coasts along with a bump or two of thrills before it ends. As a DVD it should please its audiences just fine.
I scored “The Cave” a deep 5 out of 10.
