Sanctum 3D

I'm sure that some of you Northern Hemispherians have seen on the telly this week the types of storms that us on the flip side have to endure each cyclone season and the mass havoc and destruction they can cause. It's no wondering then, what effect that kind of weather system can have on a bunch of people exploring caves hundreds of metres beneath the earth.
The closest I've gotten to 'caving' is driving through the Clem 7 tunnel which goes under the Brisbane River. I thought that was pretty darn cool.
Until...
Sanctum is based on a true story about Andrew Wight's near-death experience during his own journey to the center of the earth (almost). New comer John Garvin co-wrote the screenplay with Andrew Wight while Kokoda director Alister Grierson directed. One must note that James Cameron and his super swanky 3D cameras were used to shoot the film on our lovely Gold Coast.
Father Frank (Richard Roxburgh - Rake) and son Josh (Rhys Wakefield - Home And Away) don't see eye to eye. Frank is a cave diver and spends most of his time underground. On the other hand, Josh is a climber. Maybe that is the problem.
Cranky Frank and his team are exploring the mother of all caves, Esa Ala in Papua New Guinea, a giant hole in the ground that delves deeper and deeper into the earth with a series of magnificent caves and underground rivers. The 'money' for the expedition comes from loud-mouthed American (stereotype much) Carl (Mr Fantastic himself, Ioan Gruffud) who is joined by his girlfriend, and climber, Victoria (Alice Parkinson - The Pacific).
With some very helpful exposition by The Chaser's Andrew 'that's not a wizard' Hansen, we see a computer map of the caves and how far they have been explored. Frank thinks that the cave eventually leads out to the sea and he is very keen to prove his theory.
As a storm starts raging on the surface, underground we become fast learners in Cave Diving 101 as one of the team drowns after ripping an all important oxygen pipe. The rest of the team head to the surface only to find the cave is filling up with water and the exit is blocked by a massive boulder.
In order to survive, they must trust Frank's trust in the cave and make their way through an unexplored part of the world with little oxygen and battery powered torches.
I thought the 3D really enhanced the experience of being deep under water, of exploring those cavernous halls that they aptly name after ballrooms and cathedrals. I highly recommend dishing out the few extra bucks. There is a vast sense of space one moment then intense claustrophobia the next as they go on their way.
I wasn't too concerned about the performances; they came across as a wee bit forced in parts. The usual strained father-son relationship tropes play out heavily here. Victoria's line about 'what could possibly go wrong diving in caves' was a tad naff and Jeremy Clarkson-esque. Carl was very annoying and I found myself quite early looking forward to his inevitable demise.
But all that aside, at times my knuckles were almost as white as the water in the 'Meat Grinder' and I found myself holding my breath more than once. If that Brit horror flick The Descent didn't put you off going underground then this one surely will.
Some nit-picky questions about extraneous light sources must be asked... maybe later.
Things I learnt: never throw away unwanted gifts if they also act as a torch; if you have to wear a dead chick's wetsuit then FUCKING PUT IT ON and then get a hair cut; keep your friends close and your enemies under water.
James Cameron must really like the colour blue.
Lovely to watch.
Seven out of ten.