In an era when “strong female characters” were still a rarity in horror movies, The Descent brought a breath of fresh air to the genre — ironically, by going underground. The film follows a group of women who go spelunking in a remote North Carolina cave, only to discover that they’re not alone in the darkness. The creatures are creepy, the horror sequences are terrifyingly intense, and the characters are brave and capable as they fight for survival in director Neil Marshall’s breakout film.