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This is not an awful movie nor isn't it a recommendation of mine but Augusten Burrough's life seems gypped with this rendition. Obviously, Annette Bening was glorious as the misdirected, doped, self-important woman who has been stripped of a goal in life, something she is not innocent in ruining herself. Additionally, Jill Clayburgh hits another high note as she inhabits her role as expertly as Bening. Obviously, the women shine here. In fact, none of the actors fail the film for acting chops. Unfortunately, the bent and disturbed early life of Augusten Burroughs almost seems zapped of his personal joy and awe at his wild surroundings. Augusten was inspired by these events not just a victim of them. A problem the casting had was for its main character. Joseph Cross seems miscast in that he is clearly much too old to fill his shoes. An important fact is that Augusten was a minor involved in a lopsided affair with a man much older than he. In this casting, Fiennes and Cross could have been schoolmates so the legal point of "statutory rape" seems quite lost nor is there any indication of how his strength evolved out of this relationship. Augusten's writings delve into and reveal his flamboyance and vanity as well as his apparent jubilation at having such a disturbed upbringing. Augusten in the film becomes merely a secondary character with very little interaction. It's almost not about him. As a heartbreaking dissection of how family members can cripple each other and have their dreams implode, this film soars. It might have been better as fiction but Augusten Burroughs' personality on film doesn't evolve except for some minor wardrobe changes. There's a lot more pain, destruction and crying here than any amazement at it all, a much more distinct element in Burroughs' writing. It hardly skirts how funny and clever he is on paper.

Apart from some odd dialog in the beginning, this thriller/horror/monster flick is very tight, nasty and thoroughly frightening. From the uneasiness created by the tight spaces as a prelude to the action, the creepy photography and speed at which this film propels, the audience is rarely given time to breathe. Little is offered of the characters' background but enough development is in place to frame a harrowing circumstance neither these women nor the audience is ready to confront. From their point of entry into the dark hole, you always have a sense that you're in trouble and once the action takes off, you feel as hopeless as they do. It's sprinkled with references in tone, visuals and music to other films like "Alien", "Dawn Of The Dead," "Carrie" and even John Carpenter's, "The Thing" but it never steals from them. And you rarely have a moment to even worry about how much it may resemble other films. Certainly, gore is a major element in this so be ready to cover your eyes but for those who appreciate a monster film with violent action and a predominant sense of originality, this flick will smack you upside your head and often. It never feels cheap. Except for 2 cheesy scares(which are very minor and you don't have a moment to care), this film stands tall on it's own, even offering a couple of "morally questionable" scenarios that don't get tidied up(a plus in my book). It's a breath of fresh air for the audience if not for the trapped cavers. I can't wait to see the DVD version with the original, downer ending. Because of the "committee" decision to not use it, I've kept from giving this film another star.