The protagonist's journey through the labyrinthine darkness (constructed with a minimalist's sense of economy) instills an appropriate sense of confusion and claustrophobia, but is broken up far too often with expository rest stops that feel like video game cut scenes. There is so much information, usually presented through hurried gasps or flickering video screens, that processing it all can feel like a chore. The end pays off but a little streamlining might have made the journey less tiresome.

...I don't even know.

Could have been a great movie. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the story had certain elements of genuine wickedness, but a poor English translation of a poorly written french script performed by poorly trained actors (in particular, the female biologist) ruins the whole experience. Pity.

Okay. It was able to capture the atmosphere, but it felt too much like a video game. The silent protagonist walking from area to area, as cut scenes interrupt that progress.

Extremely interesting, but overambitious. It's not just good, it's a spectacular example of its genre up through the scene introducing the botanist. Immediately afterwards, it takes a nosedive with some truly gratuitous bad behavior and a dumb and unsatisfying explanation of events that makes the whole thing a transparent metaphor.

- absolute torture :: it's like watching someone play a really, really boring video game. ...except worse.

Great dispensing of information until the end of the 2nd act. Awesome atmosphere and use of lighting. Acting is weak, writing is... mixed. Seems to be working more on a parable or allegory level than a straight-narrative level. If you pay attention, it's not nearly as confusing as many people seem to think.

Good gritty and claustrophobical atmosphere but the rest is a bit to messy

A great parable and might be the best use of darkness since Third man. In fact at times it feels like a huge tribute to it. Sci-fi elements was also handled tactly; it might be a bit confusing to follow, but actually it has a very straight forward story. I think in 3-5 years it can turn out to be a cult movie; which is what the producers were after after all

The film unfolds as a compelling little ramble through a claustrophobic underground. However, what starts out as a medley of homages to other films quickly leads to hackneyed twists that ruin the whole atmospheric quest for knowledge with a great flop of an ending. Still it's definitely worth a watch as it still manages to be one of the better sci-fi flicks of the late 2000s.

Quite an amazing capture of atmosphere, but utterly terrible writing and acting. Incredibly weak plot, and we never learn much about any of the characters.

I am not sure it's right to call it 'movie', because it looks more like an overlong demo reel of visual effects' artist. Not only narrative is almost non-existent, but the bits that seem to connect are laughably bad. Well done mess.

fairly well made but is so confusing that it's nearly impossible to figure out what is going on. even at the end when everything is reavealed there is a lot up to interperetation.