If There's a Hell Below

"This film will leave you pretty ticked off so don't watch it if you do not like your time to be wasted"

OK first off let me say from the beginning of the first scene in this movie which is a side ways shot of a wheat field and a windmill I was excited about watching this movie. The cinematography was beautiful at the least and the acting and dialogue was very intriguing. The Director and Writer of this film Nathan Williams along with Matthew Williams who I assume is his brother had a big opportunity for this film to strike a nerve but in a good way. But with such a slow moving story the suspense builds creating a urgency to find out what is the big secret, But when you risk being so mysterious and then don't deliver on the expectation of enlightenment then you can really anger someone who does not like there time to be wasted and sorry to say this movie is the poster child of that type of film. It's almost like they came up with a great scenario but didn't actually know how to make it practical in reality for us to see why this could be happening so they decided to not even try to give it a cause or a reason. Like shouting out it's a conspiracy theory with no actual conspiracy to point at.When some films end and you may be a little upset as to what really happened in the last scene is one thing, But when you don't know why or even how something happened is totally another. And I can't help but feel sorry for the donators who helped raise crowd funding money for this indie film to feel like ripping there hair out because they were only paying for a good idea great cinematography and acting.I think the Williams are very talented and can do better in the future.I also support indie films as much as the next movie junky but take caution and do not watch this film in theaters it will not be a fun ride home. So a 3 is what I give this film which had potential to be an eight if Matthew and Nathan had only put more work into finishing out this mystery and creating an actual developing story. Also If anyone can even figure out why the movie is even titled "If There Is A Hell Below" Please leave a review or comment on the holes in the film at the end or even how that could of happened.

WHY ? !?! Oh why ?!? Serious waste of time man :/ Terrible . Terrible.....

While watching Nathan Williams's "If There's a Hell Below", I got the feeling that it was a criticism of the so called War on Terrorism. At least that's what I assumed. A lot of the movie comes across as nearly aimless wondering across the barren landscape of eastern Washington state, with a journalist from Chicago meeting a woman who claims to have inside information about a nefarious plot. Minimalist but intense, the movie does address issues of cover-ups, but seems to do so without connecting the topic to anything major (except for a quick line about Snowden, Manning and Assange).

It's an OK movie, but could've been a more coherent one.

This is not a film for everyone. For those who like spy movies where you need to think then this is a film for you.

You are confronted observing a meeting of a whistle-blower and minor league journalist. As I was watching the movie I was actually angry watching the things that Abe (the journalist) would be doing being in such a dangerous situation. Gosh, he gives the impression of just being on a country ride with a stranger and needs to hurry for the evening night out on the town. Elementary understanding of the world of spies would have any intelligent journalist taking Valium just to get through the whole thing. Nehh, not Abe, he knows no fear.

The elementary spy craft that is needed in such a situation is suggested in the movie but is never fulling displayed to the viewer resulting in opinions of incredulity, "Now how could that happen ?". Pickup some Ludlum books or watch some good spy movies with Matt Damon and you will understand. Gene Hackman was in a good one. This stuff is in this movie but you just don't see it. Hence you have to think to understand how it was done.

Someone complained about the ending having no sense, film not being resolved for the viewer. Well I think that that is the strength of the movie and its specific ending. You are confronted with the unexpected. This should lead one to analyze THE WHOLE movie and scrutinize all the players and what they said, what they did etc. OK, this would be a process best done with others, similar to what we so often saw in Sherlock Holmes movies.

The players give us clues who they are but we need to do the work to try and fit this information into a coherent picture. This will lead to different interpretations as not everyone will see the same details and interpret them in the same way. And there are hidden details in this movie which in my mind could easily carry over to another movie being produced.

Someone complains about the gravely road making a lot of noise and finding it hard to believe that the Watcher's vehicle would not be heard as it "suddenly" parked itself not far away from the silos. Well the noise grave road is the short segment near the silos. The main road is not asphalt quiet, but it is significantly quieter. Add to this the fact that HER back is mostly always facing where the Watcher's vehicle will be parked and it is not surprising she did not notice it. Additionally, when you are occupied talking your conscious mind is not in two places at the same time. Hence slowly moving vehicle could potentially sneak-up on them.

OK, I am not going to spoil the fun but will advise that this movie requires that you watch it twice. If one does not have an eye for details and remembers then a second viewing is required. Without the details the movie seems meaningless and that is just fine for people in the World of Spies and Guns.

Yes, this movie is highly underrated. You expect a block buster? Don't do that. The perfection lies in it's simplicity, that's why it feels very life-like. I watched it without any previous information, or idea about the plot. The story runs on a smaller scale in terms of action or location, but as again, the facial expressions, the smaller gestures, simple but tense twists on the story add up to a great, dark play. The movie brilliantly drives your expectations towards the outcome. I am please with the experience and I genuinely hope that we live in a better world than this and no one has to go though on things like this in real life ...