This 3-D cave-diving adventure plays on a lot of fears, so avoid it if you have an aversion to claustrophobia, drowning or really bad acting.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 31, 2023

The failings of 3D, the ironically one-dimensional characters, and hammy acting squander any hope of losing oneself in this tale of survival.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 31, 2023

Doesn't surpass being a hypertrophied B movie. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Oct 11, 2022

An interesting journey thanks to a decent helping of suspenseful moments, but it's unfortunate the characters don't retain the same level of intrigue.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 30, 2020

The cast is uniformly weak, likely a combination of being forced to mutter words that shouldn't even be thought in silence and their own cinematic inadequacy.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.0/4.0 | Sep 21, 2020

The characters are so head-scratchingly idiotic you wonder how in the world they managed to put their swimsuits on.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Aug 11, 2020

At the high moments, it is an edge of your seat kind of thriller where the tension constantly creeps upwards, and the characters are in real, immediate danger. Only those moments are far too few and far between.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Jul 13, 2020

Sanctum has on its plus side stunning settings and excellent use of the 3D process [but] that dimensionality doesn't go very far with the characters.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Feb 16, 2019

An enjoyable if formulaic film.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 6, 2018

Coupled with Frank's borderline sociopathic 'survival of the fittest' philosophy and his son Rhys Wakefield's bland sulkiness, there's not one likeable character to care about when things go wrong.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Mar 11, 2016

I couldn't wait for these people to drown.

Full Review | May 3, 2015

While Sanctum isn't a great film, it's enjoyable for the thrilling element.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 26, 2013

The strong special effects can't overcome the story's sour focus on pain and hopelessness.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.0/5 | Jun 30, 2013

Mixed in with flat characters and tense action is an incredible 3D visual component - which is where Cameron's involvement in the project is most apparent.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 4, 2012

It's a continuing clash between laughably poor acting and ultra-serious brow-furrowing that renders Sanctum unintentionally hilarious, thereby deflating it completely.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 28, 2012

The film's lack of a decent story, character development, and performances, as well as its emotional hollowness, make it not worth the time in any format.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Sep 21, 2012

Its downfall is its clich-riddled and fusty script.

Full Review | Oct 7, 2011

Often feels like James Cameron just playing around with some very expensive bathtub toys -- and treading water until his Avatar sequel comes out next year.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 9, 2011

Seriously, you'll find yourself more emotionally and viscerally involved by sticking some Lego men in a water filled blender and watching them go round and round.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 14, 2011

The tension is difficult to be felt with such flat characters.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 | Jun 11, 2011