what lies below

Movie Review: ‘What Lies Below’ (2020) Is Brilliantly Uncomfortable

Every time I see this title, I can’t help but think about 2000’s horror thriller, What Lies Beneath, but What Lies Below couldn’t be any different. I knew something was fishy from the beginning but man this film had many twists and turns. Written by Braden R. Duemmler, who also made his directorial feature debut, the film stars Ema Horvath (Don’t Look Deeper), Trey Tucker (The Space Between Us), Mena Suvari (American Beauty), and Haskiri Velasquez (Saved by the Bell).

What Lies Below

Synopsis for What Lies Below

Liberty, a socially awkward 16-year-old, returns from two months at camp to a blindsided introduction of her Mother’s fiance?, John Smith, whose charm, intelligence, and beauty paint the picture of a man too perfect to be human.

What Lies Below

This film was wild. It started out with a young girl awkwardly crushing on her Mother’s new fiance? and then quickly turns uncomfortable when he seems to be interested as well. But things get even crazier and her desire soon turned to fear. It was kind of all over the place but not in a bad way. I enjoyed all the unexpected twists and turns. I may be a little biased, but to me, this is just another reason that you should always get to know your new partner, before introducing them to your child.

What Lies Below

What Lies Below delivered strong and emotionally-powerful performances by both Ema Horvath and Mena Suvari. Ema’s character was uncomfortably awkward and sometimes hard to watch, which shows how great of an actress she is. It was great to see Mena. I’ve always loved her as an actress, but this was one of my favorite performances by her. Mena’s character was broken but very genuine and hopeful.

What Lies Below

Beyond the performances, one of the other superior things about this film was the awesome cinematography and imagery. There are some truly beautiful scenes that stick out and left a lasting memory. Also, it must be said that there are some truly horrifying scenes, some with very minimal blood, and some completely without, that are truly haunting and cringeworthy.

If you love horror thrillers and loads of awkward moments, I highly recommend checking this movie out. Vertical Entertainment will release the supernatural thriller, What Lies Below, on Demand and Digital on December 4, 2020.

About Tori Danielle

Tori has had a passion for Horror and music ever since she was a little girl. She got bit by the writing bug in high school where she was involved in both the school newspaper and the yearbook. While getting her Bachelors degree, she took Journalism and Creative Writing classes where her passion grew even stronger. Now, in between work and family, she spends all of her spare time indulging in music, Horror movies, and nerdy fandoms, all while running/assisting one of the biggest Horror groups on Facebook and writing for various websites.

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