The Tunnel is a 2011 Australian thriller film directed by Carlo Ledesma and starring Stephen Curry, Belinda McClory, and Andy Rodoreda. The film follows a documentary crew who become trapped in a collapsed tunnel while investigating an urban legend.
The Tunnel is an effective thriller that makes great use of its claustrophobic setting. The cast is strong, led by Stephen Curry as the documentary filmmaker who becomes the group’s leader. The film is well-paced, ratcheting up the tension as the characters become more and more desperate.
The Tunnel is a mockumentary, a movie that pitches itself in a real, documentary, retrospective style where events have already occurred and certain protagonists are giving us the low down. This, whilst not being a terminal flaw, does reduce the tension factor of the movie a lot in my opinion, as we know right from the beginning who’s going to survive and who isn’t. Regardless, The Tunnel does manage to be gripping when it wants to be.
Watching The Tunnel i couldn’t help but be reminded of a older British movie called Creep, a movie that has young 20-somethings trawling around the underworld of London being terrorised by forces unknown. The two movie’s are indeed very much alike one another. Clearly originality is not The Tunnel’s strong suit.
The movie’s acting standard is good, nothing amazing but perfectly solid.
One thing i did feel somewhat let down by is SPOILER! the fact we never really get a good look at the monster/thing – the glimpses we do get make it look kind of human (even though it sounds totally inhuman) but it’s difficult to be sure. Sadly we never get to know exactly what that thing is and i want to know dammit. Also, what exactly was the role of the government in all this? We know that they know it’s down there but what are they doing about it? I can’t help but feel all these empty questions are setting us up for a sequel – potentially even a prequel.
Like i said earlier The Tunnel can be quite gripping in parts, most of it’s tension is built using good sound effects and camera effects. It is a decent flick for sure, just not very original and somewhat empty on answers. Therefore it comes recommended just so long as you don’t expect too much.
The film’s biggest strength is its ability to create a sense of dread and unease. The tunnel is a claustrophobic and oppressive setting, and the film does a great job of making the audience feel the characters’ desperation. The Tunnel is an effective thriller that is sure to leave viewers feeling uneasy.
Synopsis
The Tunnel is a 2011 Australian thriller film directed by Carlo Ledesma, written by Enzo Tedeschi and Julian Harvey, and produced by Enzo Tedeschi. The film stars Hugo Weaving, Stephen Curry, Ryan Corr, and Belinda McClory.
The film is set in Sydney in 2007, during the construction of the Cross City Tunnel. Construction workers uncover a network of tunnels beneath the city, which they soon discover are home to a community of people who have been living in the tunnels for years.
The workers are initially fascinated by the community and their way of life, but things take a turn for the worse when they realize that the tunnels are also home to a number of deadly creatures. The workers are soon fighting for their lives as they attempt to escape the tunnels and the creatures that live there.
The Tunnel was shot on location in Sydney, Australia. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was released in Australia on 7 April 2011.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the atmosphere and acting, while others criticized the film’s pace and lack of scares.
Movie Details
Director: Carlo Ledesma
Writers: Enzo Tedeschi, Julian Harvey
Actors: Bel Deliá, Andy Rodoreda, Steve Davis, James Caitlin
Release Year: 2011