Caved In (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

3.5/10   

Director:

Richard Pepin

Writers:

Michael Konyves (writer) and
Neil Elman (writer)

Release Date:

7 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The ultimate threat. The gravest danger. Hidden in the earth.

Plot:

Disguised as extreme adventurers, a group of high profile thieves unknowingly lead a group of wealthy tourists on an expedition through an abandoned salt mine that is guarded by ancient creatures.

Plot Keywords:

Elevator Shaft | Evisceration | Impalement | Giant Insect | Stabbed In The Hand

Cast

Christopher Atkins	...	John Palmer
Colm Meaney	...	Vincent
Angela Featherstone	...	Samantha Palmer
Monica Barladeanu	...	Sophie (as Monica Birladeanu)
David Palffy	...	Marcel
Chelan Simmons	...	Emily Palmer
Stevie Mitchell	...	Miles Palmer
Marius Chivu	...	Hanz
Cristian Popa	...	Stephan
Vlad Jipa	...	Carlo (as Tudor Vlad Jipa)
Razvan Popa	...	Muller
Marius Capota	...	Ion
Dan Sandulescu	...	Luciano
Adrian Pintea	...	Supervisor Frisch

Also Known As:

Caved In: Prehistoric Terror (USA) (long title)
Bajo tierra (Spain) [es]
Enterrés vivants (France) [fr]
Il mistero della miniera di smeraldi (Italy) [it]
To spilaio (Greece) (DVD title) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence and gore.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA | USA:R (certificate #41877)

Filming Locations:

Kentauros Studios, Bucharest, Romania

Company:

CineTel Pictures

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the spelunkers are going through the "egg chamber", a giant "queen beetle" shows up, and it's suggested that killing the queen will throw the nest into chaos. The problem with this is that queens only appear among social insects, such as ants, termites, bees and wasps. Beetles are scavengers, not social, and even the isolation suggested in this movie would not produce a queen-based communal structure. Scavengers compete for food; they do not co-operate.

Quotes:

John Palmer: Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Your plan isn't just falling apart, it's being ripped apart! By giant bugs!

UGH! Sci Fi Strikes Again!

Watched this tonight...it was a forced endeavor after the first few minutes. The Sci Fi Network has some real need of new creative staff, writers and directors. This was a poorly done venture of a pitiful film. While I enjoyed seeing Colm Meaney (Vincent) and Christopher Atkins (John Palmer) again, even their acting was rather bleak. The plot was interesting, but overdone - huge mutant beetles living underground for who knows how long. While the bugs themselves looked 'real', the editing was painful! There were really bad clips during the entire movie. Pay attention to a scene early in the movie when the group is going down the mine shaft – one guy nearly falls out – watch the 'skillful' editing when they get him back on the lift! Amateur film makers with Hi-8 Video Cameras could have probably done a better job. What was up with the actors who played the kids? Chelan Simmons (Emily Palmer) and Stevie Mitchell (Miles Palmer) were real screamers! I had to check the cast list to make sure that the actress who played Emily wasn't the daughter of Kate Capshaw! (Remember all the shrill, needless screaming she did in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom). All Chelan/Emily did was scream nearly the entire movie. If the writers were more realistic, the character of Emily would have been more of a fighter and helped her mother, Samantha (played by Angela Featherstone). At one point, I hoped Samantha would just shoot Emily to shut her up. I love the Sci Fi Channel because I really love Science Fiction and Adventure films, but the bigwigs in that network need a reality check and clean house of those who are producing their network movies. Most Sci Fi Channel/Network 'Original' movies have been absolutely horrible. Why do I even try to watch their 'Original' movies? Because I do live this type of movie and want to give them a chance and...I must also be a glutton for punishment...I keep expecting that they will finally get with the right picture.

Sci Fi DOES have some great and very creative commercials - maybe they need to have the people making those promotional spots produce their network movies.