The Cave Critics Consensus. A hard-hitting documentary with imagery as powerful as its message, The Cave poses heartbreakingly urgent questions - and leaves them for the viewer to answer. In 2015 The Cave completed a private dining room (the Barrel Room) and expansion of the restaurant. The Barrel Room offers guest the ability to reserve the space for their large groups, or rental the room to host private parties, meetings or events. Before the spelunkers enter the cave, they read about a battle between demons and knights within the cave that was inscripted on a mosaic. Regardless, they still enter the cave, and quickly drop down via ropes. They set up a temporary base, and Jack sends Briggs as lead scout, angering Tyler, who thinks of himself as 'the best scout'.

1. The Cave 2005 Free
2. The Cave 2005 Plot

Inspiration[edit]

I believe it is logical to assume that the story was inspired from the Legend of Dracula from the following points:1) The cave is in Romania, which is where Transylvania is.2)Dracula-or vampires in general-turn from the sign of the crucifix. It is interpreted here as the cave's lying underneath a church, i.e. evil is being held down by the power of God. 3)These creatures are like bats, or vampires; they fly, see better in the darkness, and were seen walking upside down. 4)Finally, these creatures when they bite someone, they infect him/her into one of their own kind, just like a vampire who when bites someone, changes him/her into a vampire also, under certain conditions that vary from one novelist to another.

There may be something to what you say; however, you may also have it backwards. Romania is well known as a country with hundreds of caves, and bats are very fond of living in caves. The prevalence of bats in Romania is probably why bats and vampires and Dracula grew to be so strongly associated together. Finally, the Templars did in fact found many churches in Romania, as well as all over Europe.

Rpresser 05:23, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

In Germany, it was stated by the promoters that it is based on ACTUAL events. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.62.120.215 (talk) 07:24, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Cleanup tag[edit]

I added the cleanup tag because the synopsis is waaaaaaaaay too detailed, but - how I don't really understand - also very difficult to follow.--Anchoress 11:11, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

Addendum - I don't think a WP movie plot synopsis has to be this long, but for comparison, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is an example of an entry that is very readable and not overburdened with minutae.--Anchoress 12:05, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Cleanup tag removed after long, detailed synopsis removed.--Anchoress 14:00, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Cleanup tag replaced when long summary replaced. Anchoress 05:10, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Why no revert, Anchoress? I think it may be called for, even though I generally support information no matter the mess.mordicai. 04:37, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

Yeahhhh... well, I've been thinking of posting to the RfC about it. To be honest, I supported the bold editor's removal of the summary, especially when it became obvious how satisfactorily the short synopsis sufficed, but I just don't feel good about a bunch of editors ganging up on one, especially since if we get our way, someone's work is summarily removed. I guess I'm just not confident enough with the red pen. But... I'll mull it. What it comes down to I think is not wanting to hurt feelings or seem like a bully, but since the action is so appropriate to the problem, they're not good reasons. Anchoress 04:49, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

OK you convinced me. See below. Anchoress 04:57, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

Detailed plot description[edit]

After consideration (see above section) re-removed detailed plot description per opinions of three editors. Editor who re-inserted it suggests it should be improved rather than deleted, but it really, really needs a lot of work and little has been forthcoming during the time the cleanup tag has been applied.

Below is the text of the detailed synopsis; if anyone wants to work on it and re-insert it (hopefully in a much tightened and clearer form) I'm sure the opposing editors would approve.

Details

Before the spelunkers enter the cave, they read about a battle between demons and knights within the cave that was inscripted on a mosaic. Regardless, they still enter the cave, and quickly drop down via ropes. They set up a temporary base, and Jack sends Briggs as lead scout, angering Tyler, who thinks of himself as 'the best scout'. Briggs begins to swim down a flooded cave formation, while keeping contact with home base through a camera located on his headgear. As he descends deeper the group loses contact with him, and Jack is prepared to send Tyler down to look for him. While Tyler readies for the search, the laptop screen flashes with life, and we see Briggs' head talking amid a cloud of darkness. He says he found the perfect place for their advance base, but is subsequently attacked by what he calls a 'giant rodent or rat'. The screen then begins to flash white noise.

The group begins to panick. They all put on rebreathers and follow the cable to Strobe's location. Jack and Tyler then find advance base, a base that is oddly missing Briggs. As they scream for out his name, Briggs pops out at a distant grotto, telling them to come here. They find a pair of worn out boots. Someone was here before them.

Cut back to the underwater explorers. Top finds the break in their connection; something had chewed the cable in two. Strobe on the other hand begins to descend a narrow crevice, eager to explore this new location. However, as he goes down a creature attacks him out of nowhere, and drags him through a small aperture. As he's sucked in his rebreather gets smashed on some rocks, and his lithium reacts with his oxygen tank, causing the rebreather to explode in a fury of air bubbles. The explosion essentially destroys the surrounding cave system, causing stalgmites and stalactites to come crashing down. Briggs is sent plummeting to advance base, where a flume of water had just shot up from the surface. Jack and Top go back in the water, only to see a mass of rubble blocking the path - the path they just came in from. As they try to remove some of the rocks to find Strobe, a large column slowly falls down, crushing the pile of rocks just as Jack and Top swim back. The last we see is a swaying Strobe's hand.

The group is now stuck in Titan's Hall, a name given to their current location by Dr. Nicolai. Jack promptly states, 'We won't be missed for 12 days, and that's just about when our supplies run out.' So Jack tells Top to climb a terraneous cliff with him, hoping that the hole above would be their salvation. As they climb, Tyler breaks into a small scuffle with Briggs, who were both agitated that 'he left his partner'. Charlie breaks them up, nonchalantly saying 'is this how you grieve over a friend's death?' Flash back to the the two mountaineers. The two have made it into the hole, and Jack tries to get through a narrow sledge of rock to see if there would be an opening on the other side. With Top literally at his heels, Jack sees a flock of scorpions and screams at Top to back up. Top, in a belligerent manner, yells 'you want me to back up?' Jack is then sucked into the hole by an unknown creature, which prompts Top to do nothing but yell his name repeatedly. Jack manages to wound the creature by flaying it with his machete, and Top and he then leave the section, and go back to advance base, saying that Jack need's medical attention. Kathyrn sees a giant claw latched onto his back in amazement, and Top comes with some antibiotics just as the claw unwraps itself from Jacks wounded shoulder. Jack, clearly angry, groans, 'how many expeditions have you been on before?' to which the reply is 'enough'.

Kathyrn and Nicolai then decide to run some analysis on the claw. The biologist states that the claw is almost amphibious, with the exception of the hair follicles on it. She notices that the severed tendons also act like a parasital microbe she found before, and both she and Nicolai agree that this is something confined to this cave. Jack then demands that they have to leave this place as swift as possible; Nicolai demands that the group should wait for backup. They ignore him and explore the cave system around them, and Jack finds a river resembling a cache of rapids. He tells everyone to ride it down, saying that it should lead them out somewhere. They all enter one by one. Nicolai, on his way down, crashes into a multitude of rocks, essentially crippling him. Tyler and Kathryn are seperated- something had caught onto the biologist's harness. Tyler is swept way under by the rapids, and is neatly displaced by a giant waterfall. He plops down, only to be followed by Charlie and Kathryn. Jack messages him via earphones, and he lights a flare to give away his location. As the three make it to the others, Nicolai is pelted down, into utter complete darkness. He can hear the others, but can't see them, so Jack decides to swim after him. Meanwhile, Charlie and Top complain that something is in the water- Tyler believes it to be the eel that they had seen before. As Jack swims to the scientist, Nicolai is dragged down by the creature, and the last glimpse Jack has of him is a ghost-like figure silhoutted by his lantern.

The group finds a ledge, leading to another complex system of stone mazes. Top puts down some gas lighters, stating that if the creatures come the group should use them. Jack and Tyler see there is another gaping quite some distance away, and say they're going to climb up there. As they ready up their gear, Charlie disobeys orders and begins trekking up the pass. Jack and Tyler try catching up to her, but to their dismay, she is too fast for them. Charlie finally reaches the hole in the sky, and as she looks in she says she feels a draft, denoting that this may be a way out. However, one of the creatures flies out and attacks her, causing her to topple back down quite a ways. Luckily, her safety locks catch her in place, and she slowly spins around midair. As she regains consciousness, she sees a creature to her side, and she tries to run to another cliff parallel to the one she's on. As she narrowly misses getting a hold on the other side, she runs towards the creature with the lighter in her hand. In a burst of flames she ignites the creature which falls down the wall, and she sprints and jumps to the other side. As she puts another lock in place, a creature flies towards her. Just as she screams, 'they can freakin' fly.' The creature slams into her, and with her pocket knife she slashes the creature's wings. The monster flies off. We then see Jack carrying Charlie, evidently dead, in his hands. They put a blanket over her.

Jack, Tyler, Top, Alex, Briggs and Katherine are left. Katherine walks over and notices that Jack's eyes have changed along with Jack's skin. 'I finally understand everything now' Katherine says. She says that because of the creature scratching Jack, Jack is now infected. He will become one of the creatures soon. She adds that the people from 30 years ago are the creatures. Some virus got into their system, which caused them to mutate into creatures. Lastly, she adds that the creatures that are hunting them now, are the people from 30 years ago.

Tyler says that he doesn't believe Katherine. This leads everyone to fight and argue. Briggs says he can lead the group since Jack will mutate into one of these creatures shortly. Jack says that he is still in control. The group decides to split up and go their own separate ways. Briggs leads Katherine and Alex, while Jack, Tyler and Top go off on there on.

Moments later, we go to Top, Tyler and Jack. They come across a large room with lava pits and fire. Tyler says that they shouldn't have split up. Tyler separates from Top and Jack and searches for Briggs' group. In the mean time, we cut to Briggs leading his group. They travel through some tunnels. Briggs thinks he sees an exit. One of the creatures comes flying out and attacks the group. Briggs fights it off while Katherine and Alex run for their lives. Alex and Katherine get separated. Tyler hears yelling, indicating he is close to finding Briggs. Tyler comes across Briggs' bloody body pushed up against some spikes on the ceiling. Briggs tells Tyler to find Katherine and Alex. Briggs dies.

After a while Tyler finally finds Katherine. The creature chases the two of them. They dive underwater and swim to dry land. Cut back to Top and Jack. They are climbing down some ice rocks. Top slips, and breaks his leg. Jack goes to help him. Tyler and Katherine meet up with Top and Jack. Alex also shows up. A creature shows up. Jack says that they can blow up their air tanks and hopefully kill the creatures for good. One of the creatures come flying down and takes one of the air tanks. It takes the air tanks and blows itself up causing a huge explosion. The walls start to crumble. Some spikes fall from the rocks and go into Alex pinning him to the ground.

One of the creatures comes flying down and kills Alex. Right here you see a black tattoo on the creature's arm that is exactly the same as one of the explorers from 30 years ago had in the earlier flashback. This indicates that Katherine's assumption about the creatures being human was correct. A creature that is flying straight towards them corners Tyler, Top and Katherine. Jack then climbs up a rock to get the last air tank that was taken by one of the creatures. Next, Jack sets off his air tank and this causes a huge explosion. Finally, Jack jumps off of the rock and collides with the flying creature to try and kill it.

Top, Katherine and Tyler dive underwater to avoid the explosion. The three swim through an underwater tunnel and finally make it out the cave. The screen fades out.

The Cave 2005 Free

We come back and we see Top, Katherine and Tyler sitting in a café. Tyler asks Katherine if there was anyway Jack could have survived the explosion in the cave right before they escaped. Katherine says no. A taxi comes for Top and he says his goodbyes. Katherine looks over at Tyler and takes her sunglasses off. We see that Katherine's eyes are yellow and disfigured. She is infected. 'At first I thought the virus could only live in a cave environment. I am not so sure anymore. I think it wants to get out'. Katherine gets up and makes a run for it. Tyler chases after, but loses sight of her.

--Anchoress 04:57, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

Film comparison[edit]

OK, the following certainly doesn't belong in the article, nor does it belong on a Talk page about the article, but I just had to get this out. I am mystified by the preference of all critics for The Descent over The Cave. The Descent didn't even use real caves in its sets! The Cave has beautiful, real sets, great photography; it has caves and diving; it has very realistic-seeming caving technology. It's a great nerd movie. All The Descent has for me is boredom. (Oh yeah, The Cavern, the third caving movie in the set, truly did suck.) Rpresser 05:28, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

Simple - The Descent is a much better film. Who cares which was filmed in actual caves? In the end it comes down to story and thats all that really matters. Now, can someone please delete this entire exchange, as Wiki is not a bulletine board? (Go to IMDB for that) RoyBatty42 07:34, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

Mate, The Cave did have a beautiful set, but that was by far the best thing about it. Critics don't like The Descent for it's set, they liked it for the claustrophobic atmosphere, strong acting, realistic characterization, great direction, terrifying monsters, and subtle writing. Which were all things I found lacking in The Cave.

To the extent that 3 fairly big-budget films came out within months of each other, all having roughly similar plots, a discussion of their similarities would be relevant in the main article. Whether that discussion should take the form of a point-by-point comparison of sets, scripts, or even critical reviews, might be left up to readers (and revisers). As for assertions that 'in the end it comes down to story...,' they presuppose a fairly narrow view of what readers might come to Wiki for. If one were really confident that, for example, it doesn't matter whether a cave film is shot in an actual cave, one might put that stance into the Wiki article devoted to the analysis of films. It seems to be more a position about the role of props and settings than one that really informs readers about The Cave (or any other movie). C d h (talk) 05:23, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

The 'it was shot in an actual cave' thing is poor proof of anything. What does it help to have been shot in an actual cave, if it sucks as a movie? The storyline is convulted, and find any caver, and they'll tell you The Descent is far more believable as a caving movie. Hell, the first few minutes of the movie feature a paleobiologist who fails to recognise the Olm as the biggest creature so far discovered to live underearth, and just laughs amicably at a far bigger 'Cave Mole' - a creature she, as a paleobiologist should be absolutely enthralled with. But hey, at least she looks good, ey. So much for a geek's (oops, a nerd's) response to this dreck of a movie. And personally, the one thing that bothered me most about this movie is the America, Fuck Yeah attitude that it drips gratiously with. TomorrowTime (talk) 18:58, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't normally get involved in discussions like this, and certainly this discussion doesn't belong here, but I saw this film on TV (in HD with surround sound) last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The point is that it is BEAUTIFULLY SHOT (with atmospheric and frighteningly realistic sound) 'in an actual cave'. There is more to being a good film than characterisation; indeed there is no reason why a film with no characterisation should not be excellent in its own way. I guess the point is that simply quoting Rotten Tomatoes may give a misleading and biased picture of the film that is not appropriate for Wiki either, although I offer no solution other than leaving these comments here. Keithbowden (talk) 22:17, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Filming locations[edit]

I have removed the sentence that claims that The Cave was filmed in an actual cave, as the information I have been able to source (including information from divers involved with the production), is that the cave scenes were filmed on a set in Romania. If anyone knows any different, please edit the article accordingly.--Soulparadox (talk) 18:10, 9 September 2012 (UTC)

Situated beneath the Waikato, one of New Zealand’s more prominent agricultural regions located to the south of Auckland, the Waitomo caves are a natural marvel. Over the last 30 million years, the Waitomo caves (nearly 300 in all) were carved out of limestone by volcanic activity. (Fun Fact: The Waitomo Caves were used to record audio effects for scenes involving Gollum in The Lord of the Rings films)

However, Waitomo’s true claim to fame is that its caves are home to one of the largest populations of glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa) in the world, with the largest assembly of glowworms located in the Waitomo Glowworm Cave (They’re really good with names). The local Maori tribe had long known of the location of the cave prior to its first official exploration in 1887, but had never traveled inside of it due to a combination of the varying water depths and a general lack of interest. The first people to explore the interior of the cave were local Maori Chief Tane Tinorau, and English surveyor Fred Mace. The two men entered the cave through what is now referred to as the lower entrance on a raft made of woven flax stems.

After entering the cave, they floated into the area known as the Glowworm Grotto where they discovered thousands of glowworms hanging down from the ceiling. After exploring the cave further over the next two years, Tinorau decided to open the cave to tourists, a practice, which continues to this day (many of the guides at the Waitomo Glowworm Cave are third and fourth generation descendants of Tane Tinorau).

The Cave 2005 Plot

If you’re in the mood for thrill seeking however, Waitomo is also home to the world famous Black Water Rafting Company. A combination of caving and a slightly more adventurous lazy river, black water rafting is definitely worth a go. Throughout their various black water tours, The BWR Co. take rafters through dense New Zealand jungle, down tight cave entrance, over pitch black waterfalls, and under colonies of brightly illuminated glowworms. When I went this past winter, I originally had planned on taking a GoPro inside the cave with me, however I was told that such activities were not allowed. So, instead of my own personal video, I invite you to take a look at The Company’s own promotional video (sorry, it was the best I could do).