Sanctum

"The only way out is down."

2011 1h 48m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 1,217

ActionThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Master diver Frank McGuire has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team—including 17-year-old son Josh and financier Carl Hurley are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out.

“The only way out is down.”

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Cast

Richard Roxburgh
Frank
Ioan Gruffudd
Carl
Rhys Wakefield
Josh
Alice Parkinson
Victoria
Dan Wyllie
Crazy George
Christopher James Baker
J.D.
Nicole Downes
Liz
Allison Cratchley
Judes

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alister Grierson
Writers: John Garvin, Andrew Wight, David Russell
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Australia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.6× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 15 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Australia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Alister Grierson, shot by Jules O'Loughlin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by David Hirschfelder. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Richard Roxburgh and Ioan Gruffudd and Rhys Wakefield carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The only way out is down.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0881320 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alister Grierson directs. Jules O'Loughlin behind the camera. David Hirschfelder scores. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Australia. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 3.6× over at the box office.
2Released 15 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Australia.
4Directed by Alister Grierson, shot by Jules O'Loughlin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by David Hirschfelder. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Richard Roxburgh and Ioan Gruffudd and Rhys Wakefield carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "The only way out is down.".
8IMDB entry: tt0881320 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 9 themes, including "expedition", "cave", "based on true story", "scuba diving".
10Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jules O'Loughlin
Original score: David Hirschfelder
Production design: Nicholas McCallum
Costume design: Mirela Rupic
Makeup / hair: Kristine Versey
VFX supervisor: Peter Webb
Sound: Robert Mackenzie
Stunt coordinator: Chris Anderson
Runtime: 108 min · 1h 48m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $30,000,000
Box office: $108,609,310
Return: 362% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Sanctum (2011)

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Alister Grierson

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2014-06-04
★ 6.5/10
A private place from which most people are excluded… Much was made during the publicity and promotion for Sanctum of James Cameron’s name being attached, understandably so. Sanctum is what it is, a glossy exercise in 3D film making, a disaster movie awash with clichés and contrivances, a picture that’s narrative drive comes from following a well worn formula in this particular sphere of genre film making. Is it fun? Thrilling? Oh absolutely! The effects work is super at times, the scenery equally so, whilst some of the set pieces are dynamite. If you can get past the cheese and cliché buffet bar then there’s a whole bunch of tasty treats to be sampled down in those dark and dingy cave formations… It’s directed by Alister Grierson but in truth this is a Cameron movie, and with that comes the fact that it’s the best and worst of Cameron. Take that as you will… 6.5/10

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