The Last Descent

well this movie was really hard for me to watch.i read about John Jones exploring the cave and decided to watch the last descent to try and understand what really happened. even though it doesn't show us exactly how he was stuck i kept telling myself maybe they could have done more. i wish it was shown how the tried getting him out. all in all this really made my heart sink. i can't imagine what he went through in there

I was made aware of the tragedy a short while ago and had to check out the film adaption of the last moments of John Jones's life. The idea of being trapped in a tight spot underground in its self is terrifying. I can only imagine what it was really like. Contrary to what others are saying about the religious aspect in the plot, I don't mind them at all since the man who died was in fact Mormon himself. It makes sense to me that people think of their lives, aspirations and a higher power if they believe in one. It doesn't matter what YOU the viewer believe in or if you believe in anything at all, the fact of the matter is that the deceased DID. My only real criticism is that we as an audience didn't really get to know John other than through his flashbacks and dreams. I understand that it's probably highly intrusive to ask a grieving family about their deceased family but I wonder if the pacing could have been done better in that regard. I expected to have to wait awhile for the inevitable, but about 10 minutes in and he was already stuck. The rest of the time is just to watch him suffer and the many points of view of those trying to get him out. I understand why though, its as if they intended to put you directly in John's AND his family's shoes to understand their exact point of view. This is essentially a dramatization of a biography in which his life ended. It's subject matter is disturbing if you're claustrophobic or prone to night terrors but over all it stays true to being biographical rather than a heart racing horror plot. I say well done to try and emulate this man's life.

Chadwick Hopsin gave a stellar performance as John. Kudos to Halasima for a beautifully done mosaic of John's life & ordeal. All actors were believable, set was well-done w/great attention to detail. Those saying you shouldn't watch if you're claustrophobic weren't kidding; it is very tense when John is scooching thru the narrow passage. Later, that extreme level of tension diminishes. However, I found that days after watching, this story still haunts me. Many call it similar to 127 Hours but it's more similar to Everest (Rob Hall), imo. Despite the horrific ordeal, there simply isn't the same level of suspense. Some reviews are unhappy with the way the film was done. But w/any art, you need to look for what the presentation is trying to convey, not what you think it should convey. This is a beautiful retelling of who John was, what became of him, & some interesting ideas of what he might have experienced. But it does leave a lot out, which can be found on the web. IE, it doesn't reveal they tried to dig rock away to make more room, that 2 rescuers got stuck, or that only 15 were qualified to actually go into that part of the cave. It doesn't tell that the son of the cave-access manager was sent in to do the final crawl with a stethoscope. The nimble 15 y/o was a regular caver who also brought with him the radio for a final goodbye to Emily, which never took place. I would definitely recommend watching this part-documentary/ part-drama & then do a search where you'll find things like a drawing depicting how John was positioned & the narrow access routes. The rescuer called Aaron in the film was actually Ryan Shurtz. In the only detail I could find about Ryan it was said despite his cave & rescue expertise when he first saw John's predicament he had to hold back tears. Both Ryan & Susie became friends of the families. But be warned: This film will stick to you. Many viewers find their way to YT channels like TFIL or CBG, where seasoned spelunkers film their adventures and make it back out. For me, watching those videos gave me some relief and a better understanding of what happened to John and even what kind of person would attempt such a challenge. For those complaining there was a religious thread, this film wasn't designed to avoid personal triggers but to portray a man's touching journey. I think those who fear believers to the point they're compelled to constantly draw attention to their distain are the very people who need such trust & tranquility in their own lives. It's yours for the asking. I found this aspect of the film to be very moving, personally. Regardless if a person considers themselves a believer, we all long to know our loved one has found some solace and that they are not really lost. Truly an amazing, intense watch. So glad I stumbled onto this film. There are many other harrowing stories of cavers around the world but, to my knowledge, this is the only full-length docudrama. But I will stress again, this will haunt some of those who watch.