Early in Mine 9, there’s a scene in which a group of Appalachian miners takes a vote on whether they should continue working at a site that’s at risk of a methane explosion. “Paycheck ain’t going to mean shit if you die two miles in, Kenny,” one declares. This scene serves to set up our conflict and introduce the ensemble cast, each character with a compelling enough background to pack an emotional punch once we see them cast this ominous vote. Eddie Mensore’s film about nine miners who do indeed get trapped two miles underground is not the first to show the dangers that await men and women who go to work beneath the earth: the 2015 film The 33 brought to theaters the true story of 33 Chilean miners who made international headlines when they became trapped underground. But Mine 9 is grittier with an eerie score that will make viewers wonder if they’re watching a horror film. Unfortunately, the film begins to lose its once-solid footing in the third act, leading to a rushed and disappointing ending.