CATACOMBS

Victoria, an American girl going through a period of depression, is invited by her sister Carolyn to Paris, where the latter lives and studies. On the very night of Victoria's arrival, her sister takes her to what is described as the most trendy and exciting experience for young Parisians, namely a rave party in the catacombs located beneath the city. But not everything goes as planned: a mix of alcohol and drugs creates confusion in Victoria and the sudden police raid contributes to throwing the girl into panic. After fainting, she wakes up locked in the catacombs, alone... or perhaps not entirely alone! The opening titles of "Catacombs" show a disturbing yet now well-known caption that informs us that the events we are about to witness are inspired by real events. It is not clear what of what will be narrated actually happened, whether the nightmare story that the protagonist is about to undertake or more simply the disturbing story that resides in the Parisian underground. Indeed, it is said that the French capital at the beginning of the 19th century faced a dramatic increase in mortality, to the point that the streets of the city were filled with corpses and the cemeteries were no longer sufficient to contain the bodies; given the danger that the exposure of the unburied corpses could pose to the health of the living, the government decided to use an old abandoned lime mine that crossed much of the urban underground to create a gigantic common grave. The city of romance par excellence would therefore be built on thousands of nameless bodies! Starting from this premise, Tomm Coker and David Elliot, directors and screenwriters of "Catacombs", with the sponsorship of Lions Gate and Twisted Pictures, financiers of the "Saw" saga, have brought to life what on paper would have been a terrifying claustrophobic horror film and full of suspense. As for the adjective "claustrophobic", the two directors have really put everything into it and have managed to set 1h30 of a feature film in a single dark and damp location, with really satisfying results. Much is given to the oppressive and disturbing sets of Christian Niculescu, made of dark tunnels and walls lined with skulls and human bones, but the atmosphere of disorientation and real anguish is rendered in an optimal way also thanks to the successful photography of Maxime Alexandre and the skillful dosage of lights and shadows in the shots. Unfortunately, however, all the merits of the film end here. The direction of Coker and Elliot is functional in the rare adrenaline moments, which reach their peak in the beautiful sequence of the chase with the monster, but then loses personality and limits itself to following the lead actress in the endless underground walks. The screenplay is perhaps the great weak point of "Catacombs", a repetitive back-and-forth through the tunnels and corridors of the Parisian underground, without a real bite that can involve the viewer and give them a reason to finish the viewing. A final twist, rather telegraphed and ridiculous, serves little, because boredom risks gripping the viewer quite quickly. And it's a shame, because the path that the film seemed to want to take fifteen minutes after the start was that of a raw and cruel horror, with an animal monster hunting prey in the city's underground, which would have surely reminded the English "Creep – Il chirurgo", but would have nevertheless known how to entertain the viewer seeking strong emotions in the best way. In the cast of "Catacombs" is Shannyn Sossamon ("Il destino di un cavaliere", "La setta dei dannati") in the role of the protagonist, a truly capable and expressive actress who deserves much more from her career; while in the role of the co-protagonist is the pop star Alecia Moore, better known to the public by the name Pink. In short, "Catacombs" is a great wasted opportunity: there was a suggestive location, beautiful atmospheres, and a capable actress, but a horror film was produced that provokes more yawns than chills. A real shame...