The Last Descent: A Movie Showcasing Love and Family

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Movies can entertain. They can challenge. And, they can inspire.  The Last Descent is one which does a little of the first and a lot of the other two.

This review was made possible with a copy of The Last Decent. Opinions are my own and affiliate links to Amazon are included for your convenience.

The Last Descent: A Movie Showcasing Love and Family

Movie Summary

The Last Descent is a movie rooted in reality. A story that some of you may remember from the news back in 2009.

John Edward Jones climbed down into Nutty Putty Cave in November of 2009 with the expectation of some fun spelunking.  However, he did not expect the adventure ahead of him. As he explored a lesser-known area of the cave, he slid down into a narrow impasse 10 inches high and 18 inches wide. Stuck upside down for over 28 hours, John was left with few options but to call for help.

The unique topography and geological makeup of Nutty Putty cave created intense difficulties for the rescue team that risked everything to save John’s life. Over 150 feet below the surface and the end of over a thousand feet of tunnels, a unique friendship is formed as John and his rescuers share their lives, loves, losses and dreams.

As the rescue attempt proceeds, John unfolds the turns in his life that show what is most important, and he tells the story of a love worth risking everything for.

Our Thoughts on The Last Descent

I went into the viewing of the movie knowing the outcome. John does not survive.

Sometimes knowing a character will die removes a desire to see a movie. Yet, for this one, it was not a factor in my decision to watch. Rather, I went into the movie knowing we’d see a side of the story not portrayed by the media years ago.

News coverage in 2009 did not show how everything played out during his last days on earth. The movie tells parts of John’s life story before the cave. Things like how he met and fell in love with his wife are presented as flashbacks during those last hours. And conversations with some of the different 100+ rescuers who so valiantly attempted to rescue him are featured.

I will share that the scenes of him going through the cave prior to getting stuck caused me some unease. It wasn’t just knowing what his fate would be. But, rather my own personality is such that I do not like confined spaces. Spelunking is not an activity I am planning to do. I prefer my cave exploration to be in LARGE spaces.
Yet, the story was compelling as you see someone who knows they are in their last hours. Images of those that mattered most to him are what rose into his mind, whether he was conscious or not. And in the end, when we are called from this earth our life comes down to the legacy we leave behind. John left behind his wife, a daughter he adored, and a son he never able to hold.

Statement On The Last Decent from His Family

Finally, I’ll close with this statement from John’s family.

“John will always be remembered for his genuine love of his family and friends, passion for adventure, goofy sense of humor and unwavering faith. The heroic acts of the men and women who worked tirelessly to free him will never be forgotten. We hope that those who view the movie are inspired to live and love selflessly, and are comforted knowing that hope can be found in the wake of tragedy.”

 

Do you enjoy watching movies based on real events?
Would you go spelunking for fun?