Release Date: July 15th, 2013 (Limited)
Currently playing on VOD platforms
Director: Larry Fessenden
MPAA Rating: NR
Film Pulse Score: 2/10
Larry Fessenden’s Beneath plays out like a modern version of Jaws, if Jaws was directed by Ed Wood and devoid of everything that made it great, except the monster. With a ridiculous plot, Syfy grade effects, and horrendous acting, this is a generic thriller that fails to deliver on any level.
The story revolves around a group of selfish assholes that get stranded on a boat in the middle of a lake that is inhabited by a giant man-eating fish. Though these people are supposed to be friends, they mostly treat each other like shit and seem ready, willing, and able to sacrifice one another for no reason what-so-ever.
After the idiots attempt to beat the creature to death with the boat oars and subsequently lose them, it’s decided that there’s no other choice but to call a vote and dump one of them in the water as a distraction. This plan in and of itself is ludicrous, however the fact that they don’t seem to do anything but argue even after they throw someone in, makes it even more asinine. This cheap mechanic occurs several times throughout the film, but it does nothing other than attempt to create forced suspense with a bunch of people who you want to see get eaten.
The deplorable acting and script don’t help matters much either. Scenes involving the kids yelling things like “What do you want from us?” to the fish are downright laughable, however there’s no intentional comedy in the film at all. Maybe it would have been more effective if it was played less straight and more tongue in cheek like Piranha, but that isn’t the case.
To add insult to injury, because this is essentially a made for TV movie for the Chiller channel, there’s no sex, no swearing, and little violence to spice things up. This causes an already dull experience to be even more docile and mediocre. That isn’t to say these elements are necessary to create a successful thriller, far from it. In this instance however, where the key ingredient is people getting eaten by a hideous fish monster, it could have used some interesting kills.
Another painful aspect of Beneath is the camera work. In order to cash in on the found footage craze, the camera will frequently cut to shots from a Go Pro strapped to a kid’s wrist. In addition to just looking bad, it’s used as a plot device for the finale, which feels shameless and lazy.
Some may argue that this film provides an allegory on human nature itself, asking the question “Who is the real monster?” If that was the intended purpose of the film, it failed miserably. Yes, the people in this movie were jerks who didn’t really deserve to live, but they acted so hostile to one another it was impossible to believe they even knew each other, let alone were friends. Even if that was the intended message, it doesn’t excuse the film for being poorly made.
Beneath is a dreadfully mediocre affair that is just another in a long list of forgettable horror flicks that will be gracing the bargain bins by year’s end. The only promising factor is that it may have a “So bad it’s good” vibe, however more fun can be had with something that doesn’t try to be serious- like Sharknado.
