I rented this on DVD and I kind of feel bad since Dawson and Lugacy are so earnest about it in the DVD comments. It's not a bad movie exactly, but it's one of those films that desperately wants to be a deep comment on human nature while not realizing that its story is practically a genre. Plus, it is a little simplistic about the issue in a lot of ways, and the characters' behavior often strains belief. I'd say its a film that you would get something out of if you don't have a lot of film/TV/literature/life behind you (to be honest, I've seen almost exactly the same story in horror comics even). Otherwise, its point has been made before and more artfully. And that gets to the big problem, which is that it really doesn't have much of cinematic interest to it besides the point. It ends up being a fairly bland movie overall that invests everything in the idea that the basic story will be shocking and compelling, and it doesn't really pay off.
32 Reviews
What a waste!
baxter-tracy3 February 2008
The plot for Descent, if it actually can be called a plot, has two noteworthy events. One near the beginning - one at the end. Together these events make up maybe 5% of the total movie time. Everything (and I mean _everything_) in between is basically the director's desperate effort to fill in the minutes. I like disturbing movies, I like dark movies and I don't get troubled by gritty scenes - but if you expect me to sit through 60 minutes of hazy/dark (literally) scenes with NO storyline you have another thing coming. Rosario Dawson, one of my favorite actresses is completely wasted here. And no, she doesn't get naked, not even in the NC-17 version, which I saw.
If you have a couple of hours to throw away and want to watch "Descent", take a nap instead - you'll probably have more interesting dreams.
If you have a couple of hours to throw away and want to watch "Descent", take a nap instead - you'll probably have more interesting dreams.
if you don't watch it to the end,you won't understand it
disdressed1212 May 2008
Descent is an odd little movie.not too much happens for most of it's running time.in fact,until you get to the last 20 minutes or so,the rest of the movie has no context.people just do things for no discernible reason.plus,all the character are wretches,so that also makes it harder to have much interest.it basically felt like i had walked in during the middle of a movie,with no idea what had transpired before.it is a very slow movie,and it is disturbing at times,but if you can get through it,it sort of makes sense in the end.if you're not the patient sort,then you should skip this movie.otherwise,i'd say give it a shot.i thought it was worth it in the end.for me,Descent is a 6/10
Rosario Dawson gets lost, in more ways than one
dbborroughs11 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Rosario Dawson stars as a girl who is date raped and then begins a decent into darkness until given a chance at revenge. While its clear why Dawson took the role, its a chance to show her acting chops and to make a small independent, decidedly un-Hollywood film, its also clear that aside from stunning good looks, Dawson seems out of place in the role. Forgive me I simply couldn't find her. Thats not a mistake, thats how I felt, I had no idea where she was. Yes I know she's on the screen but even though I spent the better part of two hours looking at her she left no impression on me whats so ever. I blame the script for this since other than the ending, not a whole heck of a lot that happened on screen seemed to make any real sense. The people seemed to be more posture than real and what happens didn't seem to fit together. Forgive me for being vague but nothing in this film, other than the end (which I would love to talk about but can't cause it would spoil it), and the image of Rosario Dawson as nothing more than an image, stayed with me.What can I say, this may click with you, it may not, for me it's time I can't get back. For Rosario Dawson fans only, though be warned there's several real reasons why this is NC17. (And Rosario- please, you're a better actress, pick better scripts)
Take heed.
swordsnare17 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
If you have read the synopsis on here, you will gather that it is delicate subject matter and it indicative of the film's tone.
Essentially, this is film portraying the exacting revenge on a rapist, that people may wish upon those who commit these heinous crimes but not actually see eventuate.
I admire the intention and Rosario Dawson taking on such a project, but it is not something I wish upon anyone without proper forewarning. I viewed this not long after it's release without any warning and it is something I can't forget lightly. Granted this probably the impact desired by the filmmakers but it's not something you might want to stumble while browsing on Netflix and the like.
Essentially, this is film portraying the exacting revenge on a rapist, that people may wish upon those who commit these heinous crimes but not actually see eventuate.
I admire the intention and Rosario Dawson taking on such a project, but it is not something I wish upon anyone without proper forewarning. I viewed this not long after it's release without any warning and it is something I can't forget lightly. Granted this probably the impact desired by the filmmakers but it's not something you might want to stumble while browsing on Netflix and the like.
Revenge is not always sweet
lastliberal22 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This is a sandwich film. There is something on both ends, but the middle is a disappointment. So, what you get is a 15-20 minute film that lasts over a hundred. This is particularly painful as the lighting was atrocious, and the sound was weak.
Maya (the lovely Rosario Dawson) is date-raped and descends into a sort of depressive state that leads to alcohol and drugs. That's the whole middle of the film where she ends up moody and club hopping until she decides to get her life together and go back to graduate school. It is there as a teaching assistant, that she confronts the rapist (Chad Faust) again, and, it appears, that she is going to resume the relationship like nothing ever happened.
Surprise! She has something else in mind. She enlists the aid of Marcus Patrick to get her revenge. The setup is sweet, but the actual revenge borders on pornographic. Just as the rape was brutal, so was the ending.
No, despite two sex scenes, you see nothing of Rosario.
Maya (the lovely Rosario Dawson) is date-raped and descends into a sort of depressive state that leads to alcohol and drugs. That's the whole middle of the film where she ends up moody and club hopping until she decides to get her life together and go back to graduate school. It is there as a teaching assistant, that she confronts the rapist (Chad Faust) again, and, it appears, that she is going to resume the relationship like nothing ever happened.
Surprise! She has something else in mind. She enlists the aid of Marcus Patrick to get her revenge. The setup is sweet, but the actual revenge borders on pornographic. Just as the rape was brutal, so was the ending.
No, despite two sex scenes, you see nothing of Rosario.
review of Descent
maggieblueack227 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Yesterday I attended the world premiere of "Descent" at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC. I had a great time. It was sold out and attended by all the major stars including fellow my-spacer Marcus Patrick.
I give the movie 7.5 starts out of a possible 10 stars.
The movie begins with Maya (Rosario Dawson) at college. You can envision the typical college environment with wild parties and flirtations going on. The photography in this film was excellent. She meets Jared (Chad Faust) and they become sweethearts. It appears like any other relationship in the beginning. The man is in quest of the woman's attention and affection and the woman is playing hard to get. Both played this well. Very innocent flirtation between the two. He invites her to his apartment and everything falls apart.
The apartment is very dreary and dark. They eventually end up in the basement which is extremely dark and lit by numerous candles. This actually reminded me of a dungeon. Here is where he shows his true colors and proceeds to rape her. This is a very dark and gritty rape scene. This scene is not for the young or weak at heart. The rape scene is a little long and hard to take, but it is necessary for the rest of the movie that follows.
Maya now starts to lose her soul to drugs and sex. She falls into her own abyss. She starts attending the wildest of parties and wakes up one morning in a room with no recollection on how she got there. She is told to go see Adrian (Marcus Patrick). The first thing I remember about this character is that they say "he is the person who saves anyone who needs saving". He is actually the one who introduces Maya to drugs. They begin a relationship of dependency which comes into play later in the movie. The club scenes at this point of the movie are photographed with extreme expertise. I thought they were well done and I noticed that the director of photography was applauded at the end of the showing during the credits by the audience.
Maya is then back in college as a TA and who is in her class -- Jared her rapist!! You could see the confusion and emotion on Maya's face. What should I do?? What do I do next?? The shots of her face and the emotions are priceless.
What unfolds next is not actually whats happening. She acts interested in Jared. She appears to be looking to revive the relationship and be sweethearts again. I was sitting there saying could this really be happening. It wasn't. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
She invites him to her apartment and of course, he shows up. Now her apartment is dark and gritty. She has him strip down completely. He thinks he's going to get "lucky". She then teases him like any woman can. She's caressing him everywhere and he's getting excited. Note:: for anyone who plans on seeing this movie this scene is full frontal nudity - may not be right for the younger viewer.
She then turns the situation around and she becomes the beast and proceeds to rape him. Once again, the scene is dark, gritty, and very rough.
If you are going to see the movie and don't want to know what happens next, skip this paragraph and go on to the last paragraph.
This is where Adrian reenters the picture. Maya has Adrian save(?) her by performing extremely rough male sex with Jared. She thinks this is the final revenge. Adrian continues to take all of Jared's manhood and strips his dignity to nothing. Marcus, as Adrian, plays this scene as believable as anyone can. He is a strong actor playing a strong character and the strength comes out all over the screen. After the movie, during a Q&A session, Marcus explained that this scene required a lot of trust between him and Chad. Maya believes that this revenge will save her but I don't think it does. One of the final scenes has a closeup of Mays's face and you see a tear roll down her cheek. This was a fabulous closeup scene and evokes constant discussion from anyone who goes to see this movie. Did she get the revenge she wanted?? Was it as satisfying as she expected?? In my opinion, it does not. It only makes matters worse.
This is an excellent movie, will well acted roles, and I recommend it to anyone who is thinking about going to see it. I would just be a little hesitant if under 17 years of age. Rosario, Chad, and Marcus should be commended for jobs well done. The directing and photography must also be commended. It was a night that I enjoyed.
I give the movie 7.5 starts out of a possible 10 stars.
The movie begins with Maya (Rosario Dawson) at college. You can envision the typical college environment with wild parties and flirtations going on. The photography in this film was excellent. She meets Jared (Chad Faust) and they become sweethearts. It appears like any other relationship in the beginning. The man is in quest of the woman's attention and affection and the woman is playing hard to get. Both played this well. Very innocent flirtation between the two. He invites her to his apartment and everything falls apart.
The apartment is very dreary and dark. They eventually end up in the basement which is extremely dark and lit by numerous candles. This actually reminded me of a dungeon. Here is where he shows his true colors and proceeds to rape her. This is a very dark and gritty rape scene. This scene is not for the young or weak at heart. The rape scene is a little long and hard to take, but it is necessary for the rest of the movie that follows.
Maya now starts to lose her soul to drugs and sex. She falls into her own abyss. She starts attending the wildest of parties and wakes up one morning in a room with no recollection on how she got there. She is told to go see Adrian (Marcus Patrick). The first thing I remember about this character is that they say "he is the person who saves anyone who needs saving". He is actually the one who introduces Maya to drugs. They begin a relationship of dependency which comes into play later in the movie. The club scenes at this point of the movie are photographed with extreme expertise. I thought they were well done and I noticed that the director of photography was applauded at the end of the showing during the credits by the audience.
Maya is then back in college as a TA and who is in her class -- Jared her rapist!! You could see the confusion and emotion on Maya's face. What should I do?? What do I do next?? The shots of her face and the emotions are priceless.
What unfolds next is not actually whats happening. She acts interested in Jared. She appears to be looking to revive the relationship and be sweethearts again. I was sitting there saying could this really be happening. It wasn't. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
She invites him to her apartment and of course, he shows up. Now her apartment is dark and gritty. She has him strip down completely. He thinks he's going to get "lucky". She then teases him like any woman can. She's caressing him everywhere and he's getting excited. Note:: for anyone who plans on seeing this movie this scene is full frontal nudity - may not be right for the younger viewer.
She then turns the situation around and she becomes the beast and proceeds to rape him. Once again, the scene is dark, gritty, and very rough.
If you are going to see the movie and don't want to know what happens next, skip this paragraph and go on to the last paragraph.
This is where Adrian reenters the picture. Maya has Adrian save(?) her by performing extremely rough male sex with Jared. She thinks this is the final revenge. Adrian continues to take all of Jared's manhood and strips his dignity to nothing. Marcus, as Adrian, plays this scene as believable as anyone can. He is a strong actor playing a strong character and the strength comes out all over the screen. After the movie, during a Q&A session, Marcus explained that this scene required a lot of trust between him and Chad. Maya believes that this revenge will save her but I don't think it does. One of the final scenes has a closeup of Mays's face and you see a tear roll down her cheek. This was a fabulous closeup scene and evokes constant discussion from anyone who goes to see this movie. Did she get the revenge she wanted?? Was it as satisfying as she expected?? In my opinion, it does not. It only makes matters worse.
This is an excellent movie, will well acted roles, and I recommend it to anyone who is thinking about going to see it. I would just be a little hesitant if under 17 years of age. Rosario, Chad, and Marcus should be commended for jobs well done. The directing and photography must also be commended. It was a night that I enjoyed.
Pretty Bad
yaquidrl13 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Just watched this on Netflix. From the description, I had a fairly decent idea about what was going to happen. I figured it would be another revenge flick, which it is, but obviously commenting at the end that revenge doesn't fix the trauma.
My problem with the film isn't even some of the graphic nature of it, which didn't bother me too much. What bothered me is the pointless use of such imagery.
What I wanted from the film, and didn't get, was to understand more deeply how being raped might affect one's behavior, post rape. She just seemed sort of numb and sad, if not depressed.
Overall, I thought it was a very weird movie.
My problem with the film isn't even some of the graphic nature of it, which didn't bother me too much. What bothered me is the pointless use of such imagery.
What I wanted from the film, and didn't get, was to understand more deeply how being raped might affect one's behavior, post rape. She just seemed sort of numb and sad, if not depressed.
Overall, I thought it was a very weird movie.
Lugacy and Dawson bring home the darker side...
LauraPalmerthemuffin5 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
First, this was a BRAVE film. I've seen Irreversible and can understand the comparisons. However, I cannot begin to understand the people who've trashed this film. I can see how the end may have come off extreme but I'd be lying if I didn't say I wished that every guy who's ever forced a woman into sex deserved exactly what Jared got. Conversely, it didn't solve anything or make anything better and the fact that the film doesn't pretend to is what made me appreciate it.
The comment prior to this one called the film pathetic and claimed no adult would stick with. I certainly did and intently. I'm 24 years old. The way the film drags made it realistic to me. People have become so used to eye candy and fast paced plots on screen that if you ask them to concentrate too long on one brick in the foundation of a film, not only do they lose interest, they demolish whatever has been built, and call it rubbish. When in actuality it's their lack of patience and comprehension that needs fine tuning and not the product of a creative mind such as Talia Lugacy's.
Rosario Dawson displayed the numbness of self-destruction flawlessly. I think she portrayed Maya pre and post assault with great ease and the transition between the two is an act I rarely ever see done well. Often times, much like the films "aimed at teens" mentioned in the prior comment, the effects of rape are displayed as either extremely manic and impulsive or terribly depressed, isolated and lifeless. Dawson, in my opinion, manages to perform the balancing act so many survivors fall prey to: drone-like existence in the waking hours, working some dead end job to survive (and distract) and then overindulging in vices in order to lose themselves in the haze of substance abuse rather than face what sobriety brings.
I thought this film told the truth and I appreciated it for finally showing people a different side of rape. So many people let the end of this film devour the middle and the beginning...I believe that Maya's face during the act was the end...not the act itself...not the vengeance or the meaning behind it...just her face...
thank you
The comment prior to this one called the film pathetic and claimed no adult would stick with. I certainly did and intently. I'm 24 years old. The way the film drags made it realistic to me. People have become so used to eye candy and fast paced plots on screen that if you ask them to concentrate too long on one brick in the foundation of a film, not only do they lose interest, they demolish whatever has been built, and call it rubbish. When in actuality it's their lack of patience and comprehension that needs fine tuning and not the product of a creative mind such as Talia Lugacy's.
Rosario Dawson displayed the numbness of self-destruction flawlessly. I think she portrayed Maya pre and post assault with great ease and the transition between the two is an act I rarely ever see done well. Often times, much like the films "aimed at teens" mentioned in the prior comment, the effects of rape are displayed as either extremely manic and impulsive or terribly depressed, isolated and lifeless. Dawson, in my opinion, manages to perform the balancing act so many survivors fall prey to: drone-like existence in the waking hours, working some dead end job to survive (and distract) and then overindulging in vices in order to lose themselves in the haze of substance abuse rather than face what sobriety brings.
I thought this film told the truth and I appreciated it for finally showing people a different side of rape. So many people let the end of this film devour the middle and the beginning...I believe that Maya's face during the act was the end...not the act itself...not the vengeance or the meaning behind it...just her face...
thank you
From humiliation to pride
benjamingrullo14 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The pace is slow, OK, and it seems that in between both rapes there is nothing that has anything to do with a storyline. Wrong. It does have a plot, but is subtle, one can say a psychological plot that not even the main character is conscious of. This is not a movie about revenge, it is about one woman trying desperate to recover her self dignity taken away by a rapist. The foot smoking scene gives us a lot of clues of this movie's theme. It's about humiliation and pride. She loses her self respect but finds the person who will help her to get it back. The question is if it is possible to recover one owns pride by humiliating the person who took it away. It is? The movie doesn't really answer.
A Descent in the Ratings
Birkyirky15 August 2022
I found this movie to be a slow burner in some ways - and not the good way either. It was so slow i had to fast forward to speed it up! As far as genre goes it had nothing of anything really. Suspense? Bore Thriller? Bore Drama? Bore. I found myself fast forwarding long minutes of dark clubs scenes with the usual crappy music playing and stoned out junkies drinking and soft porn dancing. The dialogue was terrible written by novice writers, that was clear and never once did i feel engaged as a viewer. And again, the music was such downer, just a turn off. Dawson is a beautiful woman with great acting chops, but there was no way she could save this mess. Is it normal for a rape/revenge movie to put you to sleep? I'll give it a 3 just for RD and that's it i can't think of anything else this movie had that would give the paying viewer any excitement at all. Bought this movie at a $2 bargin bin - i got ripped.
Interesting material not so well executed
bob_meg1 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Having just recently re-viewed "Lipstick" for the first time in a few decades, I backed it with "Descent" even though I have heard more negative comments than good from other film friends with tastes as varied as mine.
It's interesting to contrast how the unique niche of the Rape Revenge movie has evolved in the past 32 years, from the full-on gore of "I Spit On Your Grave," to the tawdry sensationalism of "Lipstick," to the tasteful handling of the issue in "The Accused." But "Descent," though making some important points, never really offers us anything truly new in terms of revelatory meaning. No, "Descent" is so poorly made in terms of picture and sound quality that it detracts from any significant message it could hope to make --- a message that, when examined closely, isn't that groundbreaking.
I pretty much knew the plot going in. What I wanted to see *was* the "descent" or degeneration of Dawson's character. Being a big fan of Rosario's, I was anxious to see the layers being stripped away and her psyche being slowly twisted...you know, the kind of portrayal DeNiro brings to "Taxi Driver." Unfortunately, the script and the director/writer's choices don't provide any sort of believable transition.
The biggest point of failure is the second act. It became obvious what the filmmaker's intentions were for this segment of club-hopping, drug use, and obsession with big black stallion Adrian (every white boy's nightmare, natch) from a Q&A on the DVD, but this excursion into Dawson's character is never believably rendered. We don't know exactly what the hell she's doing half the time, what she's after, or why she's doing it. The poor quality of the audio/video again don't help, but the sequence is just too damn long and pointless. It destroys any momentum and investment in the lead character set up during the otherwise exceptionally well-done first act. By the time we get to the finale, our interest has already waned.
One point of success that Dawson does point out in the Q&A is that by the end "revenge" scene we are pumped for retribution, then realize just how drawn-out and ugly the reality is. While that's certainly valid, it doesn't make the scene any more intriguing.
If you have the DVD, check out the deleted "classroom" scene. This is an excellent 8 minute plus outtake that crackles with energy and provocation (though all verbal) and really DOES show Dawson's slow crack-up materializing as she delightfully vivisects poor Francie Swift's prissy, condescending dorm counselor. If more expository scenes like this had been added and more of the middle third cut down, we might have an interesting psychological study of the impact of senseless acts of violence.
As the film stands in the final cut, though, all we get is what we've seen before, only in a more graphic rendering. So what?
It's interesting to contrast how the unique niche of the Rape Revenge movie has evolved in the past 32 years, from the full-on gore of "I Spit On Your Grave," to the tawdry sensationalism of "Lipstick," to the tasteful handling of the issue in "The Accused." But "Descent," though making some important points, never really offers us anything truly new in terms of revelatory meaning. No, "Descent" is so poorly made in terms of picture and sound quality that it detracts from any significant message it could hope to make --- a message that, when examined closely, isn't that groundbreaking.
I pretty much knew the plot going in. What I wanted to see *was* the "descent" or degeneration of Dawson's character. Being a big fan of Rosario's, I was anxious to see the layers being stripped away and her psyche being slowly twisted...you know, the kind of portrayal DeNiro brings to "Taxi Driver." Unfortunately, the script and the director/writer's choices don't provide any sort of believable transition.
The biggest point of failure is the second act. It became obvious what the filmmaker's intentions were for this segment of club-hopping, drug use, and obsession with big black stallion Adrian (every white boy's nightmare, natch) from a Q&A on the DVD, but this excursion into Dawson's character is never believably rendered. We don't know exactly what the hell she's doing half the time, what she's after, or why she's doing it. The poor quality of the audio/video again don't help, but the sequence is just too damn long and pointless. It destroys any momentum and investment in the lead character set up during the otherwise exceptionally well-done first act. By the time we get to the finale, our interest has already waned.
One point of success that Dawson does point out in the Q&A is that by the end "revenge" scene we are pumped for retribution, then realize just how drawn-out and ugly the reality is. While that's certainly valid, it doesn't make the scene any more intriguing.
If you have the DVD, check out the deleted "classroom" scene. This is an excellent 8 minute plus outtake that crackles with energy and provocation (though all verbal) and really DOES show Dawson's slow crack-up materializing as she delightfully vivisects poor Francie Swift's prissy, condescending dorm counselor. If more expository scenes like this had been added and more of the middle third cut down, we might have an interesting psychological study of the impact of senseless acts of violence.
As the film stands in the final cut, though, all we get is what we've seen before, only in a more graphic rendering. So what?
Review: Descent
bloodymonday25 June 2008
It's excruciating experience to see "Descent" in one single watch. It shows how much humanity we sacrificed for the sake of vengeance. Just like a great companion "Hard Candy", this movie can easily teared down your emotion and left it as open-wounded.
Rosario Dawson is Maya, a shy college student who, just like any hopeful young girls, wishes to meet a perfect man. At the party, she met Jared (Chad Faust), a passionate young man. He quickly makes a move to Maya. With all beautiful words and gestures he used, Maya finally let her guard down and completely trust that, this is the man whom she can spend a life with.
Then, horror happened. Maya was brutally raped by Jared. Her ideal world seemed to crumble right in front of her face. Maya delved into the darkness as she spends her life in her own silent world. She works in a clothing shop where she just ignores everybody else. Spending time in dance club where drugs, boozes and stranger intimacy are her new friends.
Months later, the story comes to last act when Maya and Jared meet again in the classroom. As insured, she has a plan. And it's a plan that Jared couldn't possibly think of. Strangely, he plays along with it. What we have here in the last 20 minutes is the most disturbing, depraved, twisted act that anybody couldn't possibly imagine.
One can think of how cheerfulness to see our heroic trio in "Death Proof" got their revenge. The result is comedic-like, ultra-surreal ending that sure to satisfy by fans of exploitation films. "Descent" ignores the whole concept of exploitation thing and stick it firmly to the ground with its truthfulness. It's an act of vengeance in its purest form. And it goes on and on and on and nobody seemed to be happy about it.
First time director, Talia Lugacy did an admirable job to explore this twisted world. One might think that she's overdone with Maya's downfall by putting excessive madness into the protagonist that almost overkill it. But with this powerful opening and ending, It's obvious that she has a rightfulness to tell this story straight.
One can also admire the lead (and first time producer), Rosario Dawson, to put herself into an interesting career path. It's the role that any praises for her acting overshadowed by its controversial. But it's also a role that will re-define her body of work and create a significant part in her life. As she feels that she's capable to do everything from now on.
In the final moment where the film just simply captures at Maya's face, it's effective. As they're both haunting and yet, strangely beautiful. There's not a single moment to show our protagonist satisfied in what she did, even she just thought so. It shows how much we wrong thought about "Revenge is a dish best served cold". Because it's ain't.
Rosario Dawson is Maya, a shy college student who, just like any hopeful young girls, wishes to meet a perfect man. At the party, she met Jared (Chad Faust), a passionate young man. He quickly makes a move to Maya. With all beautiful words and gestures he used, Maya finally let her guard down and completely trust that, this is the man whom she can spend a life with.
Then, horror happened. Maya was brutally raped by Jared. Her ideal world seemed to crumble right in front of her face. Maya delved into the darkness as she spends her life in her own silent world. She works in a clothing shop where she just ignores everybody else. Spending time in dance club where drugs, boozes and stranger intimacy are her new friends.
Months later, the story comes to last act when Maya and Jared meet again in the classroom. As insured, she has a plan. And it's a plan that Jared couldn't possibly think of. Strangely, he plays along with it. What we have here in the last 20 minutes is the most disturbing, depraved, twisted act that anybody couldn't possibly imagine.
One can think of how cheerfulness to see our heroic trio in "Death Proof" got their revenge. The result is comedic-like, ultra-surreal ending that sure to satisfy by fans of exploitation films. "Descent" ignores the whole concept of exploitation thing and stick it firmly to the ground with its truthfulness. It's an act of vengeance in its purest form. And it goes on and on and on and nobody seemed to be happy about it.
First time director, Talia Lugacy did an admirable job to explore this twisted world. One might think that she's overdone with Maya's downfall by putting excessive madness into the protagonist that almost overkill it. But with this powerful opening and ending, It's obvious that she has a rightfulness to tell this story straight.
One can also admire the lead (and first time producer), Rosario Dawson, to put herself into an interesting career path. It's the role that any praises for her acting overshadowed by its controversial. But it's also a role that will re-define her body of work and create a significant part in her life. As she feels that she's capable to do everything from now on.
In the final moment where the film just simply captures at Maya's face, it's effective. As they're both haunting and yet, strangely beautiful. There's not a single moment to show our protagonist satisfied in what she did, even she just thought so. It shows how much we wrong thought about "Revenge is a dish best served cold". Because it's ain't.
Frustrating, Glad when it ended.
mencius_896 May 2009
From word go the movies frustrating attempt at enigma drove me to almost turn it off. It was somewhat curious to begin with but with its depth constantly shaded until the explosive last moments it wasn't something to be watched with others. Although the character performances were intriguing i thought they were restricted somewhat and should have been a little more in your face. Don't get me wrong, i love plot hooks but this one had just a little too many and lacked a lot of explanation. Its one of those movies you want to see the end of, but you want it sooner rather than later. Powerful ending, I wouldn't recommend this film though IF you still insist on watching it then do watch it through till the end. Just Don't watch it with dad :)
She thinks revenge will be sweet, but she sheds a tear for the change.
TxMike23 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
DESCENT: an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling.
DESCENT: the origin or background of a person in terms of family or nationality.
You see, cleverly, both meanings are embedded in this movie. Rosario Dawson is Maya, an intelligent mixed-race student at a small college that seems to be mostly white. When she accepts the urging of one of her friends and goes to a frat house for a keg party, the white girls give her what can be considered condescending looks.
One of the guys, Chad Faust as Jared, a football player who doesn't quite make the grade, comes on to Maya with weak, sophomoric pickup lines. She is not impressed. By sheer persistence he manages to get her to agree to a real date. When he gets her to come back to his place he turns into what he really is, racially bigoted (by the names he calls her), looking to see what he can get. The thrill of "doing it" to someone inferior.
On first viewing in a linear fashion it may not be easy to see all that, but viewing it from the beginning after seeing the whole movie it all becomes clear. And this begins the other meaning of descent, moving downward, dropping, falling. Maya changes, and it isn't for the better.
The revenge comes at the end, in an extended scene that takes up about the last 1/3 of the movie. She gets what she set up, but it all brings tears in her eyes, realizing the depth she has fallen. Her accomplice is played by big, muscular Marcus Patrick as Adrian, one of the guys she got to know in her descent.
SPOILERS: Her being raped and degraded by Jared changed her but she got a T.A. job the next academic year, and by luck Jared was one of the students. She called him back after monitoring a mid semester test, she had seen him cheating. But in his egocentric world he took that as a sign she wanted to see him again. She took the opportunity to set it all up, she got him to her place, she had him take off his clothes, he was uncomfortable but went along. He let her blindfold him and handcuff to a bed. After some preliminaries on her own she brought in Adrian who, in a quite long scene, anally raped Jared. Revenge.
DESCENT: the origin or background of a person in terms of family or nationality.
You see, cleverly, both meanings are embedded in this movie. Rosario Dawson is Maya, an intelligent mixed-race student at a small college that seems to be mostly white. When she accepts the urging of one of her friends and goes to a frat house for a keg party, the white girls give her what can be considered condescending looks.
One of the guys, Chad Faust as Jared, a football player who doesn't quite make the grade, comes on to Maya with weak, sophomoric pickup lines. She is not impressed. By sheer persistence he manages to get her to agree to a real date. When he gets her to come back to his place he turns into what he really is, racially bigoted (by the names he calls her), looking to see what he can get. The thrill of "doing it" to someone inferior.
On first viewing in a linear fashion it may not be easy to see all that, but viewing it from the beginning after seeing the whole movie it all becomes clear. And this begins the other meaning of descent, moving downward, dropping, falling. Maya changes, and it isn't for the better.
The revenge comes at the end, in an extended scene that takes up about the last 1/3 of the movie. She gets what she set up, but it all brings tears in her eyes, realizing the depth she has fallen. Her accomplice is played by big, muscular Marcus Patrick as Adrian, one of the guys she got to know in her descent.
SPOILERS: Her being raped and degraded by Jared changed her but she got a T.A. job the next academic year, and by luck Jared was one of the students. She called him back after monitoring a mid semester test, she had seen him cheating. But in his egocentric world he took that as a sign she wanted to see him again. She took the opportunity to set it all up, she got him to her place, she had him take off his clothes, he was uncomfortable but went along. He let her blindfold him and handcuff to a bed. After some preliminaries on her own she brought in Adrian who, in a quite long scene, anally raped Jared. Revenge.
Know the difference
kosmasp23 March 2022
This is not the british horror movie that also goes by the name/title Descent! It also is anything but decent - in more ways than one. And it is a movie that will not be for the faint hearted or easily offended. The beginning alone might be too much for you - and it is a theme I personally do not like see explored - even in a fictional way. Although clearly this is a message and unfortunately still a truth that exists in the world, whether we like to admit it or not.
And it also ends in a place that will be hard to stomach. But as others have stated - and whether they liked the movie or its theme and more importantly its execution (no pun intended) and the morality of it in the end: there is a lot of running time that unfortunately is not doing much. And I don't mean it literally (although that is also true), but in the sense that it seems stuck. And while that is something that could work for the theme, it does not work with the tone of the movie that is all over the place.
I really like Rosario Dawson and I think no one will dismiss her as artist and an actress - but even she can't save the movie. Good intentions (if you want to call them that) be damned - it just doesn't work ... other than for the shock factor - which to be fair is one of the main goals. In that it does succeed ... but that is only a small part of it all. And could have been told in a short movie - in a way better fashion. Because there is not enough to maintain a stable pace and have this be feature length movie.
Let's hope this review will stay - the orignal one I did somehow got deleted - I am guessing by accident. Anyhow, I understand if you feel differently - you may be more leniant in respect to what I would call a movie filled with flaws and just be intrigued by the (social) message the movie tries to deliver ... as much as it did surely shock people who watched it, it did not achieve changing the root problem it adresses ... unfortunately.
And it also ends in a place that will be hard to stomach. But as others have stated - and whether they liked the movie or its theme and more importantly its execution (no pun intended) and the morality of it in the end: there is a lot of running time that unfortunately is not doing much. And I don't mean it literally (although that is also true), but in the sense that it seems stuck. And while that is something that could work for the theme, it does not work with the tone of the movie that is all over the place.
I really like Rosario Dawson and I think no one will dismiss her as artist and an actress - but even she can't save the movie. Good intentions (if you want to call them that) be damned - it just doesn't work ... other than for the shock factor - which to be fair is one of the main goals. In that it does succeed ... but that is only a small part of it all. And could have been told in a short movie - in a way better fashion. Because there is not enough to maintain a stable pace and have this be feature length movie.
Let's hope this review will stay - the orignal one I did somehow got deleted - I am guessing by accident. Anyhow, I understand if you feel differently - you may be more leniant in respect to what I would call a movie filled with flaws and just be intrigued by the (social) message the movie tries to deliver ... as much as it did surely shock people who watched it, it did not achieve changing the root problem it adresses ... unfortunately.
Disturbing Yet Boring
cluelessmonkeys-128 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Okay so i found out about this movie and I watched the preview read almost all the reviews and was having a hard time debating whether I should watch it or not. Before i even watched the movie i was emotionally weird on it. i was so unsure if i was going to watch this and be disturbed for like a long time. So i choose to risk it and watched it and heres what i thought: The beginning started off fine for me. It seemed to be heading in a decent direction. Got past the rape scene and i couldn't figure why people were so disturbed or bored by the movie. Don't get me wrong the rape scene was just as sad and scary but it didn't really bother me to a dramatic point. Then as the middle came in i understood the boring stuff that was going on. There was like 5 minutes shots of nothing but people walking around saying or showing nothing! its one thing to have a shot where a person is showing some kind of emotion but this movie didn't have that. It had about 3 of these pointless scenes, where you see the main character Maya kind of get out of control but it didn't show it right making me want to fast forward. Then when she engaged in the hardcore partying it wasn't so boring but still a little dull. Oh and as a note Rosario Dawson still did a great job. Okay moving on so finally after an hour of pointlessness to the middle the revenge comes to Maya's attention. Thats where it got disturbing. I didn't feel bad for him or nothing he got what he deserved but the whole scene was really disturbing and i just felt all eck after it. I cant really tell you whether or not to watch this movie because its so...i don't know i cant find a word to sum it up. But if you choose to watch it just don't be unsuprised.
Couldn't finish it.
lafavesj-139-60784918 January 2022
Amazingly dark portrayal of trauma.
LnineB28 March 2021
For once, I finally get to see a movie that portrays the reality of the aftermath of rape. This film digs deep into the psyche of what it can feel like after being violated and humiliated by another human being. Everyone talks about the ending but the true horror of the film is the very long middle segments that explores Dawson's character true descent into depression and darkness. She just doesn't "move on". She goes from living a normal college life to exploring the dark side of pain and trauma by failing out of school, drugs, alcohol and finally revenge. This is not a pure revenge story. It's more about the thin line between being prey or being the predator. At the end of the film , Rosario's character still feels empty, she still has a void. She crosses the line to become the predator but found out that it's extremely easy to become a predator. The difficult part of life is healing. With that said, the revenge is pretty sweet. I did not see that coming at all and honestly enjoyed it from the viewers perspective but not from the perspective of reality. Excellent film.
A shallow revenge movie
StevieG33817 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is entirely about a graphic rape scene done for revenge. It runs for 20 minutes and is not done artistically, it's 100% focused on graphically raping a "rapist" with a lot of detail to just rubber stamp how shallow the writer(s) and director truly is/are.
The only reason this film is not absolutely obliterated as disgusting is because it's a black man and woman raping a white man, which is the real reason the film was made. Petty, poorly written, poorly acted (Rosario Dawson is extremely lucky her career isn't judged on this film), poorly edited. Everyone involved in this really shouldn't be involved in the film industry.
For anyone who is writing reviews about the "subtlety" or "deeper" meaning, please stop. This is clearly one of the most shallow, petty scripts and films made in the history of film.
The only reason this film is not absolutely obliterated as disgusting is because it's a black man and woman raping a white man, which is the real reason the film was made. Petty, poorly written, poorly acted (Rosario Dawson is extremely lucky her career isn't judged on this film), poorly edited. Everyone involved in this really shouldn't be involved in the film industry.
For anyone who is writing reviews about the "subtlety" or "deeper" meaning, please stop. This is clearly one of the most shallow, petty scripts and films made in the history of film.
Partially Brilliant
cheekymonkey677 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I have to admit that I enjoyed this film. It had a stark grit that is lacking in big budget films. I felt that the story of her "descent" and awakening to the power of allure and sexual appetite was well done with the exception of the skipping of large amounts of time. I had the feeling that this was to relay that her descent took time but it also detracted from the feeling of being emotionally connected to her to some degree. It would have been better served if we could have seen the progression from shock to being drunk in the club as well as other progressions. The culmination of her descent provoked many feelings in me: vindication, shock, arousal, ultimately sadness and futility. I gave this a 6 because of the disconnect in the emotional story line but as a story and cautionary tale this movie was right on the mark.
Best film of 2007
kingnostromo18 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I rented this movie simply because Rosario Dawson was in it. I sat down to watch it with my buddy and 6 minutes in we were glued to our seats. Not because of any intensity in those 6 minutes, but because it was a real film. No Hollywood BS, no explosions, no corny one liners; film. It drew you in slowly, reeling you toward a tragically human fate. Some people think they enjoy film but they are sadly mistaken. They like movies; mindless entertainment for entertainment's sake alone. Michael Bay's Transformers and the like were produced for just this audience. No need to think people, just watch and allow ever stereotype we can muster to slowly dissolve your brain. We'll even place advertisements throughout the movie, to keep you buying our products. And don't forget the explosions, we all love explosions. Here we make the distinction, art can be entertaining, but it's also thought provoking and moves you in hidden ways. Entertainment is rarely artful and even then only arbitrarily. Movie are entertainment. Descent is a film. Film is art.
If you still house a soul within your walking meat-sack apparatus, this rape scene is every bit as powerful as "Irreversable". The distinction here is that "Irreversable" was a violent rape scene involving two people whose paths have unfortunately crossed at the wrong time and hell ensued. "Descent" is about date rape. No less disgusting. No less depraved. Just different. This is about trust violation, soul desecration and the scars that run deep. Had the character "Maya" been consenting it would have been a hot sex scene. But seeing as she was desperate to escape, the scene is sickening. "Jared" is a sick and manipulative serial rapist, and it's wholly unsettling because it so closely resembles a passionate love affair. How could "Maya" ever be close to anyone again when even in the midst of raping her "Jared's" slick lover boy facade only ever hints at slipping? She is ruined.
The film as a whole is beautiful. The camera work and lighting at times removes the surroundings and focuses everything on "Maya" and the silent inner workings of her mind. All this accomplished by Rosario with facial expression and gesture. The soundtrack was excellent, a blend of everything. My particularly favorite scene being a synchronism of all these film aspects working together; "Maya" dancing in a sea of writhing bodies, something inside her awakening, becoming aware, all set to a beautifully sad Jeff Buckley tune.
I don't think I've really spoiled anything here but I'm stopping before I do. Bottom line, I think this was the best film of 2007, hands down. Unfortunately it seems that everyone is so jaded these days that if you don't hack and slash, gang rape, or nuke anything then people just can't be bothered. Death isn't the worst thing that can happen to you. It's only the last thing that will happen in this existence. The worst things that happen never leave you. They are always in your thoughts. When you shower; when you brush your teeth; when you buy a Christmas present, when you tie your shoe; they haunt you. They haunt you until that last thing releases you.
Treat yourself. Challenge yourself. Watch this film.
If you still house a soul within your walking meat-sack apparatus, this rape scene is every bit as powerful as "Irreversable". The distinction here is that "Irreversable" was a violent rape scene involving two people whose paths have unfortunately crossed at the wrong time and hell ensued. "Descent" is about date rape. No less disgusting. No less depraved. Just different. This is about trust violation, soul desecration and the scars that run deep. Had the character "Maya" been consenting it would have been a hot sex scene. But seeing as she was desperate to escape, the scene is sickening. "Jared" is a sick and manipulative serial rapist, and it's wholly unsettling because it so closely resembles a passionate love affair. How could "Maya" ever be close to anyone again when even in the midst of raping her "Jared's" slick lover boy facade only ever hints at slipping? She is ruined.
The film as a whole is beautiful. The camera work and lighting at times removes the surroundings and focuses everything on "Maya" and the silent inner workings of her mind. All this accomplished by Rosario with facial expression and gesture. The soundtrack was excellent, a blend of everything. My particularly favorite scene being a synchronism of all these film aspects working together; "Maya" dancing in a sea of writhing bodies, something inside her awakening, becoming aware, all set to a beautifully sad Jeff Buckley tune.
I don't think I've really spoiled anything here but I'm stopping before I do. Bottom line, I think this was the best film of 2007, hands down. Unfortunately it seems that everyone is so jaded these days that if you don't hack and slash, gang rape, or nuke anything then people just can't be bothered. Death isn't the worst thing that can happen to you. It's only the last thing that will happen in this existence. The worst things that happen never leave you. They are always in your thoughts. When you shower; when you brush your teeth; when you buy a Christmas present, when you tie your shoe; they haunt you. They haunt you until that last thing releases you.
Treat yourself. Challenge yourself. Watch this film.
Dawson's Descent
jkhuysmans09 March 2008
"Descent." Yeah. Boy... I haven't seen anything this powerful and scintillating since Bruno Dumont's, "Twentynine Palms" (2003). (By the way this film is not to be confused with another fairly recent pic about the topic of "female empowerment," "THE Descent" (2005), directed by our Splat Pack friend, Neil Marshall, who also happens to be a major talent his own right.) But getting back to this "Descent," the NC-17 rated (uh-oh) effort on which the lovely Ms. Dawson takes a producer's credit (congratulations) and directed by Talia Lugacy (strong chance that's not a real name), as good as it is (in moments), it will not be appreciated by most lay people out there because the script is pretty flawed. As a producer, you really have to tighten up that script. Of course, in the premise alone, you have the promise of rising conflict, but there still lies the task therein of accomplishing rising conflict.
At times, this thing plays like an interesting piece of experimental theater and, well, I guess I'll let the others who've already commented here speak to the boringness of it, namely that which occurs in the second act -but find me a second act that isn't boring? There's also this Catch 22 that goes along with these quasi-independent films like "Descent" in which Rosario happens to be attaching herself to and leveraging her "fame-identity" to get a script into production that would, under usual circumstances, not get made at all while at the same time she is basically a miscast in the film's leading role. Rosario Dawson is gorgeous and, apparently, you can shoot this girl from just about any angle all day long, but, oh, wow-wee, how fast the time just slips away: Rosy ain't no undergraduate no more. That's part of the confusion about the screenplay: "Is she a graduate student? A TA? No, graduate students don't really have these type of qualms with football players, do they?" Again, if you are Rosario Dawson, Executive Producer, that's the one of many, many aspects to the professional film process you'll have to think about as you embark on this wonderful new role in your film career. And if you don't have the answer to why you're movie isn't convincing, let me tell you: there is a boatload and a bevy of vivacious, well-qualified, undergraduate aged talents, pining to get involved in the business, who might have nailed that lead character down, all the while, looking just as darn good as you know who; but unfortunately without Ms. Dawson -no Honey, NO money. I have to say, the camera department did an outstanding job, however, because this film is really well shot (i.e. lit) in all its dreary/dreamy darkness. The nightclub scenes look wonderful; one can tell all those music videos are starting to pay off and the play with time... The shooting/framing is all quite excellent which makes the picture a rewarding watch.
"Descent" is good not great. However, I have a feeling, thanks to NetFlix, this movie will find a life of its own. I hope this group continues making films. If you're into experimental American film-making, cinematographic imagery of implausibly well formed college studs (or male model drop-outs) in their early twenties, or if you're an undergraduate, just plain angry at the hormonally aggressive young men that comprise less than half of your American university, "Rosario Dawson's Descent" might be your flavor of RockaRoll.
At times, this thing plays like an interesting piece of experimental theater and, well, I guess I'll let the others who've already commented here speak to the boringness of it, namely that which occurs in the second act -but find me a second act that isn't boring? There's also this Catch 22 that goes along with these quasi-independent films like "Descent" in which Rosario happens to be attaching herself to and leveraging her "fame-identity" to get a script into production that would, under usual circumstances, not get made at all while at the same time she is basically a miscast in the film's leading role. Rosario Dawson is gorgeous and, apparently, you can shoot this girl from just about any angle all day long, but, oh, wow-wee, how fast the time just slips away: Rosy ain't no undergraduate no more. That's part of the confusion about the screenplay: "Is she a graduate student? A TA? No, graduate students don't really have these type of qualms with football players, do they?" Again, if you are Rosario Dawson, Executive Producer, that's the one of many, many aspects to the professional film process you'll have to think about as you embark on this wonderful new role in your film career. And if you don't have the answer to why you're movie isn't convincing, let me tell you: there is a boatload and a bevy of vivacious, well-qualified, undergraduate aged talents, pining to get involved in the business, who might have nailed that lead character down, all the while, looking just as darn good as you know who; but unfortunately without Ms. Dawson -no Honey, NO money. I have to say, the camera department did an outstanding job, however, because this film is really well shot (i.e. lit) in all its dreary/dreamy darkness. The nightclub scenes look wonderful; one can tell all those music videos are starting to pay off and the play with time... The shooting/framing is all quite excellent which makes the picture a rewarding watch.
"Descent" is good not great. However, I have a feeling, thanks to NetFlix, this movie will find a life of its own. I hope this group continues making films. If you're into experimental American film-making, cinematographic imagery of implausibly well formed college studs (or male model drop-outs) in their early twenties, or if you're an undergraduate, just plain angry at the hormonally aggressive young men that comprise less than half of your American university, "Rosario Dawson's Descent" might be your flavor of RockaRoll.
Underrated
zzzxtreme31 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This movie leaves the intellectual mind thinking and trying to analyze the story. I too cannot understand why people would trash this movie.
If you are a Jerry Bruckheimer fan, this movie may not suitable for u.
This movie presents high degree of realism. The actors and actresses' performance is examplary. Not fake, just natural.
No special sound.effects, so special side effects.
The camera work is excellent, the music is oh so good. I can't wait to get the soundtrack.
It leaves your body numb, like Constant Garderner.The directly has raw talent, certainly not a follower.
If you are a Jerry Bruckheimer fan, this movie may not suitable for u.
This movie presents high degree of realism. The actors and actresses' performance is examplary. Not fake, just natural.
No special sound.effects, so special side effects.
The camera work is excellent, the music is oh so good. I can't wait to get the soundtrack.
It leaves your body numb, like Constant Garderner.The directly has raw talent, certainly not a follower.
This felt like a self empowerment film
interestedparty11124 August 2009
Love Rosario Dawson, think she's one of the finest actresses of the modern era.
Descent seems to be more about self-empowerment than anything else. It's the consistent undertone in everything in the film. The dialog is flat, the characters seemingly intentionally bland and one sided. The only consistency is the representation of self-empowerment in the characters and Rosario's journey from self empowerment to loss of empowerment and back again.
Pitching this as a rape classic isn't appropriate, and that's probably why so many people don't enjoy the film. The standard 'rape' audience wouldn't particularly like this film, and maybe that's the point? The film asks more questions than it answers, and it does confront it's target audience, whether they like it or not. There's a compelling relationship between the characters and the target audience and while the film doesn't slap the audience across the face with self-righteous audacity it does engage the viewer for what may or may not be, all the wrong reasons.
Descent is a good film which IMHO is severely under-rated.
Descent seems to be more about self-empowerment than anything else. It's the consistent undertone in everything in the film. The dialog is flat, the characters seemingly intentionally bland and one sided. The only consistency is the representation of self-empowerment in the characters and Rosario's journey from self empowerment to loss of empowerment and back again.
Pitching this as a rape classic isn't appropriate, and that's probably why so many people don't enjoy the film. The standard 'rape' audience wouldn't particularly like this film, and maybe that's the point? The film asks more questions than it answers, and it does confront it's target audience, whether they like it or not. There's a compelling relationship between the characters and the target audience and while the film doesn't slap the audience across the face with self-righteous audacity it does engage the viewer for what may or may not be, all the wrong reasons.
Descent is a good film which IMHO is severely under-rated.
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