An underwater cave diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to the unexplored and least accessible cave system in the world.An underwater cave diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to the unexplored and least accessible cave system in the world.An underwater cave diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to the unexplored and least accessible cave system in the world.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
Christopher James Baker
- J.D.
- (as Christopher Baker)
Dan Wyllie
- Crazy George
- (as Daniel Wyllie)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIoan Gruffudd performed his own base jump stunt, which he described as his favorite part of the shoot.
- GoofsWhen Josh first descends into the surface pit, he's Aussie rappelling with his rack attached to his back. When he reaches the gal part way down, his rack's in front.
- Alternate versionsAlso released in a 3D version.
- SoundtracksRABAUL TAUN
Written by Junior Kokoratts, Alfred Darby, Tibon Lakua, Wilson Takovong
Performed by Junior Kokoratts
Published by PNG Legend
Licensed courtesy of CHM Supersound
Featured review
How to drown in shallow water
For a film that goes so deep underground, Sanctum is a remarkably shallow experience. Playing out like The Descent with more water and no monsters, it's a beautifully shot survival flick but it's populated with characters so bland that you won't care one bit if they survive or not. And you'll probably be able to figure out what order they'll run out of oxygen in as well.
In fact, it's not that surprising that as his sticky fingers are all over the post-production and cinematography, this feels like a James Cameron flick where the script never got past the first draft. So when Grrr, Aaargh (Frank MacGuire), Whinging Son (Rhys Wakefield), Millionaire Jerk (Ioan Gruffudd), Comic Relief (Dan Wylie), Woman (Alice Parkinson) and Expendable Foreigner (Cramer Cain) find themselves trapped underground, you'll be more interested in how they're going to die than in the clunky dialogue.
That said, there's some eerily beautiful moments of utter horror to be found. From the ethereal splendour of a vast underwater cave to the pockets of air bubbling like mercury on the rocky ceiling, it's a feast for the eyes even when it leaves the brain starving.
Yes, it's clunky. Yes, the cave is surprisingly well-lit and yes, saying "what could possibly go wrong" before abseiling into the bowels of the earth is utterly stupid. But it's pretty, has a couple of cool death scenes (the "hair" moment is horrible) and it's much, much shorter than The Abyss.
In fact, it's not that surprising that as his sticky fingers are all over the post-production and cinematography, this feels like a James Cameron flick where the script never got past the first draft. So when Grrr, Aaargh (Frank MacGuire), Whinging Son (Rhys Wakefield), Millionaire Jerk (Ioan Gruffudd), Comic Relief (Dan Wylie), Woman (Alice Parkinson) and Expendable Foreigner (Cramer Cain) find themselves trapped underground, you'll be more interested in how they're going to die than in the clunky dialogue.
That said, there's some eerily beautiful moments of utter horror to be found. From the ethereal splendour of a vast underwater cave to the pockets of air bubbling like mercury on the rocky ceiling, it's a feast for the eyes even when it leaves the brain starving.
Yes, it's clunky. Yes, the cave is surprisingly well-lit and yes, saying "what could possibly go wrong" before abseiling into the bowels of the earth is utterly stupid. But it's pretty, has a couple of cool death scenes (the "hair" moment is horrible) and it's much, much shorter than The Abyss.
Helpful•1912
- ExpendableMan
- Mar 28, 2014
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- James Cameron's Sanctum
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $30,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $23,209,310
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $9,447,930
- Feb 6, 2011
- Gross worldwide
- $108,609,310
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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