Caved In (2006) (TV)

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!

Strictly Formulaic

"Caved In" features several 'name' actors who are unfortunately reduced to acting in such a by-the-books film. Christopher Atkins and Angela Featherstone play husband and wife John and Samantha Palmer who, along with their 2 children work as guides of some sort (I don't recall is being specifically stated what they do other than take people around strange places).

Instead of going on a family vacation, John Palmer accepts on offer of a lot of money to take some less-than-respectable people into some ancient caverns to hunt for a tomb full of emeralds. So he does, while his family are left to explore above-ground. Naturally, things get out of hand in the old tunnels when giant (CGI) beetles begin attacking, and one-by-one the bad guys all begin to get killed off, or double crossed. The bugs begin making their way to the surface, putting Palmer's family in even more danger.

The acting is not too bad, well, it shouldn't be considering who some of the cast are. Christopher Atkins and Angela Featherstone both give decent performances, but poor Colm Meany, formerly of "Star Trek" fame is reduced to little in his role here. Monica Dean and David Palffy are fairly good in their roles as criminals, though one of them has a heart. Chelan Simmons spends the entire movie being unlivable annoying and / or running around screaming. It's a good thing her acting ability also improves for her next film "Final Destination 3".

Sci-Fi and Horror are combined often for films ("Event Horizon", "Alien") but do not always work well together. This is one of those cases where it's really personal preference, as the film lacks a lot of things, but it is not without trying.