After having kids I found I’ve lost my enjoyment of seeing people hacked apart on screen. Generally I don’t seek these kinds of films out, but after a tremendous amount of buzz from trusted friends I decided that I would make an exception and seek out The Descent. I can’t tell you how glad I am. The Descent is one of the most suspenseful horror flicks I’ve seen in a long time. It follows the story of a group of women who come together for a weekend of fun and adventure. A day hike to a notable cave and a spelunking adventure soon go bad as cave passages begin to collapse, maps and supplies get left behind, and then the depths and darkness of the caves reveal something truly dark and ugly. The thing that impresses me about The Descent is just how expertly crafted it is. Scenes where characters make their way through tight passages had me holding my breath and squirming in my seat, and then when things go horribly wrong the tension never lets up. As I said I’m not a huge fan of the horror genre, but The Decent has definitely gotten me to seriously reconsider that. Lion’s Gate has picked up The Descent for US distribution, and it’s also available in a Region 2 DVD. Adams Æbler (Adams Apple) – One of the best Danish films I’ve seen, Adams Apple explores the concepts of good and evil, faith and destiny in a way so unique and inventive it demands to be seen. Ulrich Thomsen plays Adam, a neo-nazi sent to live in a halfway house. He sees himself as a bad man, resolving every conflict with violence, almost reveling and unapologetic in his badness. Adam’s view of himself and the world around him is challenged by Ivan, the priest in charge of the halfway house. The two lock horns both conceptually and physically as they almost literally tear each other apart. Surrounding these two are a cast of odd characters and bizarre events that keep you on your toes and prevent you from second guessing exactly where the film will go. Adams Apple is smart, creative and extremely well done. It’s been released on a Region 2 DVD and hopefully will find distribution in the US theatrically. It’s a film simply not to be missed. The Tribe (Short) – A jazz-like riff on the history of Barbie, the history of Jews, and Jewish Identity, The Tribe is an extremely entertaining and insightful film. Narrated expertly by Peter Coyote, The Tribe makes spiderweb-like connections between Barbie, the dolls inventor Ruth Handler (who was Jewish) and Jewish culture and identity. Both humorous and thought provoking, The Tribe successfully tackles an entire history of the Jewish culture in 18 minutes and poses the question “What does really it mean to be a member of a tribe?” Short films of this type from video production company London ,typically give you a glance into the talent and capabilities of a filmmaker, and based on The Tribe, I’d say Director Tiffany Shlain is definitely one to watch. This film can be seen online as part of the Sundance Online Film Fest. Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon – Perhaps better titled “Clearly Divided”, Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon documents a battle in a small rural Oregon town between the descendents of the old timber industry, with their more traditional values, and a new infusion of urban transplants with their more progressive culture. Done in an Errol Morrisesque style, Clear Cut is an extremely poignant look at the battle between faith and secularism, conservative values and liberal ideology. The central question posed in the film is “Whose values should a community and its schools reflect?”