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On her first trip to Paris, a young woman hits a party in the Catacombs, the 200-mile labyrinth of limestone tunnels under the city that's lined with the remains of 7 million people. Separated from her friends, she becomes convinced that someone or something is chasing her.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
(2.5 STARS) Terror Underneath Paris: A Much Better Film Buried Here
January 18, 2008
Format:DVD
"Catacombs" (produced by Lions Gate Films / Twisted Pictures) stars Shannyn Sossamon as Victoria, slightly nervous American girl who has just arrived in Paris. Victoria visits her fun-loving sister Carolyn (Alecia Moore aka Pink) who with her friends in Paris drags timid Victoria down to the illegal party (like a rock concert) secretly thrown in Paris catacombs.
This is where the remains of seven-million people sleep in the maze of tunnels and graves, a creepy subterranean network that spans nearly 200 miles in length. For Victoria, however, things get serious when she gets lost there and runs into something very strange. Victoria must find out a way to get out of this place, but what can she do alone in the dark?
The story of "Catacombs" fairly looks like the 2004 horror film "Creep" (starring Franka Potente) or the 2005 thriller "The Descent" (far scarier than the other two). The difference is the nice choice of the location. The realistic production designs (the "Paris catacombs" were actually constructed in the soundstage in Romania) are fantastic, but sadly director Tomm Coker and David Elliot fail to use the claustrophobic atmosphere to the full.
For Victoria screams a lot and runs around in the maze, but the film itself is hardly scary. The pretty simple story, which has a potential of becoming a more gripping thriller, suddenly stops going further until the very ending which you will either love or hate.
I don't know why, but Shannyn Sossamon keeps appearing in horror films - "The Order" "Devour" and ... "One Missed Call." I don't think her acting here is bad though it is not great either. My impression may have something to do with the character she plays because you may (and I did) find the character of Victoria a bit annoying. Yes, fear brings out the worst in people, but does that have to be shown in this way? Alecia Moore fares better as her sister, who plays a key role in the film, but the time allotted to her character is not very long.
Frankly I was disappointed with "Catacombs" because I expected more from the film; something original and new. In fact the film has one, but you have to wait for that very long. The film, which as far as I know was not shown in theaters in USA, is not a terrible disaster, but could be much better if shorter and tighter.
This is where the remains of seven-million people sleep in the maze of tunnels and graves, a creepy subterranean network that spans nearly 200 miles in length. For Victoria, however, things get serious when she gets lost there and runs into something very strange. Victoria must find out a way to get out of this place, but what can she do alone in the dark?
The story of "Catacombs" fairly looks like the 2004 horror film "Creep" (starring Franka Potente) or the 2005 thriller "The Descent" (far scarier than the other two). The difference is the nice choice of the location. The realistic production designs (the "Paris catacombs" were actually constructed in the soundstage in Romania) are fantastic, but sadly director Tomm Coker and David Elliot fail to use the claustrophobic atmosphere to the full.
For Victoria screams a lot and runs around in the maze, but the film itself is hardly scary. The pretty simple story, which has a potential of becoming a more gripping thriller, suddenly stops going further until the very ending which you will either love or hate.
I don't know why, but Shannyn Sossamon keeps appearing in horror films - "The Order" "Devour" and ... "One Missed Call." I don't think her acting here is bad though it is not great either. My impression may have something to do with the character she plays because you may (and I did) find the character of Victoria a bit annoying. Yes, fear brings out the worst in people, but does that have to be shown in this way? Alecia Moore fares better as her sister, who plays a key role in the film, but the time allotted to her character is not very long.
Frankly I was disappointed with "Catacombs" because I expected more from the film; something original and new. In fact the film has one, but you have to wait for that very long. The film, which as far as I know was not shown in theaters in USA, is not a terrible disaster, but could be much better if shorter and tighter.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Catacombs is a movie that can be enjoyed as mindless entertainment but will not satisfy hardcore horror fans. In some senses, the movie has an entertaining quality to it. But the typical mistakes of B-horror will drive you crazy if you can't help but pick your horror movies apart. We all want to be frightened by horror, but we need that scare to be believable in order to buy into it. This movie is only believable in the sense that the characters, like people we all know, are very, very dumb.
This movie is very similar to The Blair Witch Project. There are no special effects to speak of. There's a lot of screaming, running, darkness and flashing lights to distract you. Yet not a lot happens. It's not really scary per se. The film does build up some angst with those techniques, but only if you are easily startled or have weak nerves. If you liked The Blair Witch Project, you may really enjoy this. If you thought that was silly, just move on.
If you've read the synopsis you know that the film takes place in the underground catacombs of Paris. They really do exist, although not in the way they are depicted in the movie. The set is well put together considering the budget. And they are in Paris after all! Yet despite the beautiful location, the film is visually mediocre with no special cinematography to speak of. A shot of the Eiffel Tower fully lit is the best you'll get.
The script makes a little bit of sense when you get to the end. Yet the way the plot is resolved leaves the character's actions making no sense. Still, I would say most people will find the *twist* at the end to be predictable, though there are many possible endings based upon the way the first half is set up.
The consistency of the locale is never really maintained. Even though they are in Paris, we see writing on the wall in English. Not to mention people give speeches in English, the French talk to each other in English, and then the main character ... meets a guy who speaks only French. What? If they were going to translate everything into English, that would have been one thing. But the inconsistency, while not a deal breaker, is a sign of a mediocre script.
I like Shannyn Sossamon as Victoria. I think she has some talent, though I don't think she is at her best here. It's hard to think of that as a positive but it might be all things considered.
Plenty of the acting is mediocre to bad, but most of the movie is so focused on the Victoria character that it isn't as big of a liability. Even at 50%, she carries this movie. When you have terrible lines to deliver, it doesn't make acting any easier. The supporting cast is generally just OK. I don't think that Pink is as bad as people say, but she's not exactly great either. The lines are especially weak in the final sequence where everything gets explained.
When you do reach the conclusion, there are many questions left unanswered. Granted the cast is disposed of quite easily. But it's never clear how our heroine, who is lost for most of the movie, finally gets out of the catacombs.
Conclusion
If you are looking for mindless horror for a Friday night, this might do the trick. This is no masterpiece, but it's better than many B-horror movies. However, it's still a B-horror movie. There is very little in terms of unintended humor. The saving grace is that is over quick.
If you are picky about the details in your horror movies, don't expect too much from this one. This is more of a thriller than a pure horror movie, but at times it tries to be both. Rent this before buying the DVD.
This might be a three star movie for those who seek mindless diversion. For me it just misses the cut. And while it wasn't the worst I've seen, I would not seek it out for another viewing.
Enjoy.
This movie is very similar to The Blair Witch Project. There are no special effects to speak of. There's a lot of screaming, running, darkness and flashing lights to distract you. Yet not a lot happens. It's not really scary per se. The film does build up some angst with those techniques, but only if you are easily startled or have weak nerves. If you liked The Blair Witch Project, you may really enjoy this. If you thought that was silly, just move on.
If you've read the synopsis you know that the film takes place in the underground catacombs of Paris. They really do exist, although not in the way they are depicted in the movie. The set is well put together considering the budget. And they are in Paris after all! Yet despite the beautiful location, the film is visually mediocre with no special cinematography to speak of. A shot of the Eiffel Tower fully lit is the best you'll get.
The script makes a little bit of sense when you get to the end. Yet the way the plot is resolved leaves the character's actions making no sense. Still, I would say most people will find the *twist* at the end to be predictable, though there are many possible endings based upon the way the first half is set up.
The consistency of the locale is never really maintained. Even though they are in Paris, we see writing on the wall in English. Not to mention people give speeches in English, the French talk to each other in English, and then the main character ... meets a guy who speaks only French. What? If they were going to translate everything into English, that would have been one thing. But the inconsistency, while not a deal breaker, is a sign of a mediocre script.
I like Shannyn Sossamon as Victoria. I think she has some talent, though I don't think she is at her best here. It's hard to think of that as a positive but it might be all things considered.
Plenty of the acting is mediocre to bad, but most of the movie is so focused on the Victoria character that it isn't as big of a liability. Even at 50%, she carries this movie. When you have terrible lines to deliver, it doesn't make acting any easier. The supporting cast is generally just OK. I don't think that Pink is as bad as people say, but she's not exactly great either. The lines are especially weak in the final sequence where everything gets explained.
When you do reach the conclusion, there are many questions left unanswered. Granted the cast is disposed of quite easily. But it's never clear how our heroine, who is lost for most of the movie, finally gets out of the catacombs.
Conclusion
If you are looking for mindless horror for a Friday night, this might do the trick. This is no masterpiece, but it's better than many B-horror movies. However, it's still a B-horror movie. There is very little in terms of unintended humor. The saving grace is that is over quick.
If you are picky about the details in your horror movies, don't expect too much from this one. This is more of a thriller than a pure horror movie, but at times it tries to be both. Rent this before buying the DVD.
This might be a three star movie for those who seek mindless diversion. For me it just misses the cut. And while it wasn't the worst I've seen, I would not seek it out for another viewing.
Enjoy.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By David Yates
Format:DVD
One Missed Call's release has inspired my interest in the Shannyn Post "Rules of Attraction" Renaissance. What I see as a phenomenon where indie directors with a decent amount of money can pay Shannyn's agent to appear in a low budget movie. Suddenly it becomes "if you could have Shannyn star in your movie, what would you have her do?"
Catacombs is a french horror/suspense movie starring Shannyn Sossamon and Pink. Pink's character Carolyn invites Shannyn Sossamon's character Victoria, her sister, to come to Paris. Apparently Victoria has been having some issues, though they're not fully explained, one of them appears to be with drugs, and the trip is to sort of "get away from everything". They spend the day shopping and site seeing when finally Carolyn takes Victoria to a party/rave. The party is held underground in Paris' catacombs, one of the largest mass graves in the world. You meet the guy who hosts the party, and during one scene you hear of the legend of this child born of incest that was raised on nothing but raw meat, and made to wear a goat skin mask (aka the Antichrist) that supposedly lives down in the catacombs. When the police raid the catacombs, Shannyn's character hits her head while fleeing only to wake up alone in the maze of skulls and bones.
Why I like this movie:
Shannyn's character in the movie is very similar to that of Lauren from Rules of Attraction, so people who became fans of her from ROA will be sure to appreciate this movie. Actually, she's so similar that I've been coming to think of this movie as ROA2: Catacombs.
The movie, although seemingly a straight to video horror/suspense flick, is actually very stylized and "vibey", especially with the music. Everything from the shopping scene that is like an overwhelming ecstatic blur in Victoria's mind (also reminds me heavily of Victor's Trip to Europe scene from ROA), to the scene where they're driving to the party and the chill french hip hop is playing, to all the music that is played at the party that is heavily reverbed through the catacomb walls.
This movie does a good job of portraying what it's like to have a bad trip at a party. The flashing lights and the faces that echo in your mind as you try to make your way to the bar where all you need is a cup of water. Maybe I found these scenes so intense because I was high while watching the movie both times, dunno.
I would like to be more sensical in describing how great this movie is, but it comes out in bits and pieces. I will just say that of all Shannyn's new movies that I've watched since ROA, this is the best one. It's her second best movie. It really surprised me. I would have never watched something like this but my interest in her made me download and watch it only to see her and I was surprised at what a great flick it was. I even went ahead and preordered the US DVD which comes out February 19th. For anyone who liked Shan in ROA or who likes suspense, I recommend downloading this (I got it off mininova). I CAN'T STOP WATCHING THIS MOVIE!
Catacombs is a french horror/suspense movie starring Shannyn Sossamon and Pink. Pink's character Carolyn invites Shannyn Sossamon's character Victoria, her sister, to come to Paris. Apparently Victoria has been having some issues, though they're not fully explained, one of them appears to be with drugs, and the trip is to sort of "get away from everything". They spend the day shopping and site seeing when finally Carolyn takes Victoria to a party/rave. The party is held underground in Paris' catacombs, one of the largest mass graves in the world. You meet the guy who hosts the party, and during one scene you hear of the legend of this child born of incest that was raised on nothing but raw meat, and made to wear a goat skin mask (aka the Antichrist) that supposedly lives down in the catacombs. When the police raid the catacombs, Shannyn's character hits her head while fleeing only to wake up alone in the maze of skulls and bones.
Why I like this movie:
Shannyn's character in the movie is very similar to that of Lauren from Rules of Attraction, so people who became fans of her from ROA will be sure to appreciate this movie. Actually, she's so similar that I've been coming to think of this movie as ROA2: Catacombs.
The movie, although seemingly a straight to video horror/suspense flick, is actually very stylized and "vibey", especially with the music. Everything from the shopping scene that is like an overwhelming ecstatic blur in Victoria's mind (also reminds me heavily of Victor's Trip to Europe scene from ROA), to the scene where they're driving to the party and the chill french hip hop is playing, to all the music that is played at the party that is heavily reverbed through the catacomb walls.
This movie does a good job of portraying what it's like to have a bad trip at a party. The flashing lights and the faces that echo in your mind as you try to make your way to the bar where all you need is a cup of water. Maybe I found these scenes so intense because I was high while watching the movie both times, dunno.
I would like to be more sensical in describing how great this movie is, but it comes out in bits and pieces. I will just say that of all Shannyn's new movies that I've watched since ROA, this is the best one. It's her second best movie. It really surprised me. I would have never watched something like this but my interest in her made me download and watch it only to see her and I was surprised at what a great flick it was. I even went ahead and preordered the US DVD which comes out February 19th. For anyone who liked Shan in ROA or who likes suspense, I recommend downloading this (I got it off mininova). I CAN'T STOP WATCHING THIS MOVIE!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was just ok.
Wasn't the greatest movie ever but it was ok. I wouldn't watch it again. I keep trying new movies and this one was just ok.
Published 22 days ago by roma6
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of the best movies ever
I love the way the movie keeps you on the edge of ur set and then ties the movie together at the end.
Published 1 month ago by Nicole hopper
1.0 out of 5 stars
Could not finisth watching it
Was hoping for a creature film and just turned out to be another crazed killer on the loose. Great premise but not well executed, and honestly, could not watch more than 30... Read more
Published 1 month ago by starvoyager
1.0 out of 5 stars
A wasted premise
Warning: Please skip these comments if you are offended by the mention of religion in movie discussions
Started watching 'Catacombs' on amazon prime yesterday afternoon. Read more
Started watching 'Catacombs' on amazon prime yesterday afternoon. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mike
2.0 out of 5 stars
this would have been ok
I hate slasher/serial killer movies, and this is all it is. Blood gore and someone running like crazy rather than kick the crap out of the PERSON that is chasing them.
Published 2 months ago by Matthew Motter
4.0 out of 5 stars
What a surprise!
I was pretty impressed with this film. I initially selected it only because Pink was listed among the cast. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Heather K. Hyde-Herndon
2.0 out of 5 stars
A let down
It could have been so much better. Seems like they started with a good idea then fell asleep so their pre-teen sons finished it.
Published 2 months ago by Lori Niemuth
3.0 out of 5 stars
some things not noted
She had several bottles of pills and she is seen taking a cap fill, which Isuspect has to do with her paranoia. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Maryann Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
All these reviews are great but they are missing a key piece.
What what the make and model of that flashlight? Because damn, I thought throughout that movie "This is the precursor to all flashlights, this is the flashlight from the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Insearchofaflashlight
2.0 out of 5 stars
high hopes.....
That were by no means met. I have never written a review on here before but this movie was exceptionally displeasing. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cathy Onufrychuk
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