As Above, So Below

This movie does an outstanding job at doing what others have done time and time again, yet does it in a way that captivates you. It will either have you on the edge of your seat, or off to take a bathroom brake without pausing.

The opening scene of this movie is full of good intent but left me feeling confused. And not in the good way, but more in the way that makes you think that this movie is going to be just as bad as you expected.

The rest of the first half of this movie is extremely basic setup. It does absolutely nothing to innovate, captivate, or even make you care about who, what, when, why, where or how. Meet the characters, make them seem young and hip, and as always, convey that they are way out of their league.

All of this made me want to turn off my TV and call it a day. But i decided to stay and it was well worth my patience.

As soon as the characters enter the tombs, the movie picks right up. Making me feel like i'm stuck down there with them and all of their fears being exploited left me as a paranoid wreck through the rest of the film.

The movie isn't that scary, but more intense than anything.

The ending was well thought out and not cliché. It also left me wanting more movies that are written with this much thought.

"As Above, So Below"

I pondered this film for some time now. I've been trying to understand why it's done so poorly for the critics (not that that affects my opinion about a film). But I just didn't understand how we could have such stark differences in opinions about this film. I've heard it called, chiched, forced, just like all the other found footage films in this "saturated genre". And I thought none of those were true about this film. Save maybe "forced" in some moments.

Where to begin with this convoluted breakdown. The film clearly had some absurd qualities. First and foremost is the painfully contrived female protagonist. A mid-twenties girl who is fluent in 4 languages and 2 dead languages and 2 PhD's. Oh and a black belt in Krav Maga. She was beautiful, adventurous, intelligent, brave. Really? Too much. Waaay too much. HOWEVER. I know why they did it. For the sake of the story they needed a character who could do all of those things. The solution to this would've been simply to cast an older person. But that wouldn't cater to the targeted audience. They needed a full cast of young 20 somethings. There were other small things that were a little far fetched. Like "oh they conveniently had enough cameras for everyone and they never broke or got water damage." Of course. For the sake of a film in this type of genre to continue that had to be the case.

First I would like to debunk the myth that the "found footage" genre is saturated and overdone. Let me think of a couple memorable found footage films: "The Blair Witch Project".... "Paranormal Activities".... ummmm..... "Cloverfield"? I mean that's really all that stands out to me, but I'm not an avid horror fan. Maybe "Quarantine". The point is if you wanna complain about over done genres maybe you should look more in the direction of "If I stay", or "The Maze Runner" and movies alike. Or Exorcism movies. Oh. My. Gosh. Talk about overdone.

No other movie has beautifully meshed these two genres together. Historical-Mystery- Adventure and Horror. Maybe "The Mummy" but even that wasn't really going for HORROR. And maybe that's why I particularly enjoyed this film so much. I love the Historical adventures such as "Indiana Jones", "Laura Croft", "National Treasure". And they painted an idea that I don't think has been done a lot or very well. I've never seen a film that has painted Hell like they did. And I'm gonna be real, I was very creeped/stressed/scared. I think it's strongest point was it's middle act. It's build up to the finale was very well done. I continually had a sharp pain in my chest until the end. Also "George" was a pretty good actor. And the french people. Change the main girl and you've got a great movie.

In the end my reasons for why I liked it so much was that it was a fresh horror, unlike.. oh... I dunno... the thousands of possession and exorcism movies that come out every freaking year. And the concept was really intriguing.

As far as horror movies go? 9/10

As Above, So Below is a tense and claustrophobic found-footage horror film that effectively utilizes its haunting underground setting. Set in the Paris Catacombs, the film follows a group of explorers searching for the Philosopher's Stone, only to find themselves trapped in a psychological and supernatural nightmare.

Director John Erick Dowdle crafts an immersive and eerie experience, blending mythology, alchemy, and psychological horror in a way that sets this film apart from standard found-footage fare. The catacombs provide a naturally unsettling backdrop, and the film's sense of disorientation and paranoia builds steadily. While some moments fall into familiar horror tropes and the shaky camerawork can be disorienting, the film succeeds in creating a genuinely unsettling atmosphere.

With its unique setting and creative approach to horror, As Above, So Below is a suspenseful and intriguing ride that delivers more than just jump scares.

I knew very little going into this movie and it did not disappoint. Originally I gave this movie 6/10 but upon hitting up the Trivia section and realising some subtle intricacies I'd missed and just how much detail was in the movie I bumped up to an 8/10.

One of the best finds I've found in a while

Absolutely love this movie! It's a breath of fresh air from other found footage horror movies, especially with the whole archeological adventure spin on it. I loved that! It felt like Tomb Raider horror film about hell! Wicked cool! And to understand completely what's going on, you need to read Dante's inferno\ Divine Comedy. It will fill in all the gaps of the film, especially the confusing parts and ending... Awesome film... very scary.