“The Last Descent was always going to be a difficult task... the only thing that descended in the second and third acts was the film into a melodramatic and sentimental mess.” Letterboxd The Last Descent (2016)
The cave scenes are widely cited as being effectively claustrophobic and tense. Viewer Sentiment The Last Descent (2016)
Reviewers from Fandango describe it as a "slow-paced, yet deeply emotional film" that focuses on faith, family, and finding peace in hardship. “The Last Descent was always going to be a difficult task
Audience members often mention that the film is "heart-wrenching" and "difficult to watch," especially for those who already know the outcome of the Nutty Putty Cave tragedy. Audience members often mention that the film is
Critics from outlets like the Salt Lake Tribune note that the film successfully looks past the tragic headlines to show the man behind the event. However, some reviewers find the narrative's structure—which heavily features flashbacks to Jones's courtship with his wife—to be slow-paced and sentimental to a fault.
“This movie is quite realistic showing what John went through during those 27 hours that he was stuck in the cave, including his hallucinations and conversations that he had with the rescuers and his wife.” Fandango
While some find the cinematography and performances excellent, others highlight the "obviously low budget" and feel the acting can be "corny" or "cringe" at times.