Sanctum **

Alister Grierson directed this Action/Thriller. Watch Preview Cast: Richard Roxburgh, Rhys Wakefield, Ioan Gruffudd, Alice Parkinson, Dan Wyllie. Rated R for language, some violence and disturbing images. Running time is one hour and forty-nine minutes.

A team of underwater cave divers goes on a treacherous expedition to the largest, most beautiful and least accessible cave system on Earth. When a tropical storm forces them deep into the caverns, they must fight raging water, deadly terrain and creeping panic as they search for an unknown escape route to the sea.

I saw this film in IMAX 3D so my review is predicated on that. If you're looking for a couple of hours of enjoyable escapism, give this film a wide berth. There's nothing enjoyable about it and I kept looking at my watch hoping it would soon be over. In the trade, this is known as a downer...there's not a happy moment in this film. Also, if you're the least bit claustrophobic, don't even think about going to this...you'll never last. There is some stunning photography and this is easily the best 3D I've ever seen. Everything looked natural and the glasses never got tiring, which is unusual for me. But unless you're going for the ultimate 3D or you're a spelunker at heart, there's just nothing here for the usual moviegoer.