Displaying items by tag: What LIes Below movie

WHAT LIES BELOW

US, 2020, 84 minutes, Colour.

Ema Horvath, Trey Tucker, Mena Suvari.

Directed by Braden R. Duemmler.

While there are many intriguing aspects to this drama with touches of horror, it does not always make sense to the viewer while we were watching though there is some kind of ultimate explanation  the end.

The audience needs to note the colours and fire and mystery of the opening, the touch of the eerie – so when it is repeated at the end, there will be some kind of explanation.

However, the drama side of the plot focuses on a teenage girl, interested in science, rather introspective, coming from the summer camp, picked up by her rather giddily carefree mother, played by Mena Suvari, the mother eager to introduce her daughter to her new boyfriend, their clashing contrast during the car trip, the mother eager to impress her, often referring to her as, baby girl.

Then there is the boyfriend, John Smith, played by Trey Tucker, the tall dark and handsome type, very tall, musclebound, working around the house, and her daughter, partly intrigued, partly repelled, partly suspicious, bonding a little out of curiosity but because of his interest in science and his experiments and research.

On the one hand, he is absolutely devoted to his girlfriend, even proposing, she delighted. On the other hand, he is seen to be suspiciously interested in the daughter, a disturbing initial period experience, his hovering outside the door while daughter showers…

But, ultimately, there are weird things going on, his laboratory, the mother and her being transformed and captured and held, the interventions of the daughter, attempts at rescue, confrontation with John Smith – and, then the ending, the supernatural aspect of the whole story, the bright maelstrom and whatever power comes from there to inhabit John Smith.

Many audiences did not follow the film well and rubbished it. But, if this kind of drama/melodrama/romance/horror appeals, then this is an offbeat example.