I really wanted to love the original Descent, but when I saw it in the theaters I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed... From the almost criminal duplication of The Thing's score to the so-dark-and shaky you can't tell what the hell is going on atmosphere, I couldn't believe this movie developed the following it did.
It's not a bad movie by any means, just terribly overrated. The creature attacks become so redundant it almost became laughable...
I will say, however, the claustrophobia and paranoia were done so well in the first half of the film.
Sorry, I just got done watching it again. Every year or so, I feel the need to re-watch it to see if I'm being too hard on it. So far... no.
The ending of the original was fantastic though, and on top ruining the ending by making her somehow escape the cave (only to go back in for some reason?) the photos look way too bright. Despite my complaint of the original being too dark, in hindsight, it's the way it's gotta be. They are, after all, underground.