CAVE

Norway, 2016, 85 minutes, Colour.
Heidi Toini, Mads Sjogard Pettersen, Benjamin Helstad.
Directed by Henrik Martin Dhalsbakken.

Cave is impressive to look at but its characterisations and action are rather slight. And, at the end, Cave 2 is anticipated.

Three characters, with experience in Afghanistan, travel to a cave which is off official limits, explore it, find a mysterious presence and blood, have their own difficulties – but then the film turns into a film of passion and killing between the central characters.

There is a survivor who gets out of the cave and is picked up by a passing truck driver – and, it would seem, into the sequel.

For those who like cave films, The Cave (US) and Sanctum.

1. A psychological action-adventure? Cave exploration and daring? Personal passions and violence?

2. The Norwegian settings, the snow, the open highways, the vistas, aerial photography? The contrast with the lakes, waterfalls, caves, interiors, vastness, narrowness, water? The musical score?

3. Victor, his background in Afghanistan, phoning his friends to come to the cave with him? The preparations, the friendship between the three? In the cave, the exploration? Finding the tent and its contents and the blood? Deciding to go on rather than go to the police? The narrow crevices? Victor getting stuck, being pulled out? The swimming underwater?

4. Adrian and Charlie, the past friendship in for Afghanistan? Charlie and Victor? The bond between Asian and Charlie, they’re agreeing to go to the cave, the preparations? Victor and Adrian’s attraction to Charlie? Lying next to her in the cave? The response? Adrian, his character, love for Charlie? In the cave, the exploration? Freeing Victor?

5. The change of tone, Victor and his trying to kill Adrian in the water? Reviving, Charlie going for help, returning and finding Victor choking Adrian? Her reaction, his search for her, the lights? Getting the better of him, bashing him with the rock?

6. Getting out, swimming, pickup on the road? To where?