Movielogr
Down (2001)
Directed by Dick Maas
Twitter Facebook Google+Most recently watched by sensoria, noahphex, jenerator, Javitron, zombiefreak
Overview
After the elevators at a New York City skyscraper begin inexplicably malfunctioning, putting its passengers at risk, mechanic Mark Newman and reporter Jennifer Evans begin separate investigations. Newman gets resistance from superiors at his company, which manufactured the elevator, while additional elevator incidents cause several gruesome deaths. The police get involved and suspect that terrorists are responsible, but a far stranger explanation looms.
Rated R | Length 111 minutes
Actors
James Marshall | Naomi Watts | Eric Thal | Michael Ironside | Edward Herrmann | Dan Hedaya | Ron Perlman | Kathryn Meisle | David Gwillim | Martin McDougall | John Cariani | Ike Barinholtz | Peter Banks | William Vanderpuye | Wilke Durand | Priscilla Hendrickse | Sasha Woman | Todd Boyce
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/28/2011 | TV | Other | Other | 3 stars |
| (Average) 3 stars |
Viewing Notes
I can’t remember much about DE LIFT, of which THE SHAFT (Beavis and Butthead laugh) is a remake…by the same director, Dick (Beavis and Butthead laugh) Maas. I do remember enjoying it for what it was, though. At first blow (Beavis and Butthead laugh) I thought I really didn’t like THE SHAFT, but it’s growing (Beavis and Butthead laugh) on me.
Let me just say one thing up front: the acting is horrible across the board, several chracters don’t seem to know whether they’re South Africans or New Yorkers, and there are some really inane plot points. But, it’s so rife with memorable one-liners and absurdism that it holds some real charm; it’s an elevator killing people so that should be expected. Also, Maas also isn’t afraid to make some kills that most directors would shy away from, which is a pleasant surprise.
I’m split on whether Maas was trying to make a comedic slasher in the vein of PIRAHNA 3D or whether he was trying to make a serious horror movie; I really can’t tell because it seems to straddle both worlds. If it’s the latter, THE SHAFT is one of those movies that’s bad, but almost so bad it’s fun to watch because it’s just so damned straight-ahead ludicrous and seemingly earnest in its efforts. It isn’t in the realm of THE ROOM or BIRDEMIC, but it’s about halfway up that ladder. If Maas was trying to make a send-up then he rose (Beavis and Butthead laugh) to the occasion.
Favorite line: “Computers cannot reproduce. Have you ever seen two computer chips fucking?”
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