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Theatrical Review: As Above, So Below

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As Above, So Below

The best way to explain a new movie to someone who hasn’t yet seen it is to compare it to popular, well-known movies from the past, as that quickly and easily paints a picture in the mind of a cinematic experience that hasn’t yet been experienced.

Going with that line of thinking, the best way I can describe As Above, So Below is that it’s The Goonies meets Event Horizon, fusing together the adventurous fun of the former and the mind-fuck horror of the latter.

And with that mash-up comparison, I can be pretty sure that your interest is now piqued. As well it should be.

Written/directed by brothers John Erick and Drew Dowdle, the team behind Quarantine and Devil, the awkwardly-titled As Above, So Below centers on the character of Scarlett, who is, in essence, a female Indiana Jones (Indiana… Joan?).

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A fearless adventurer on a never-ending quest for truth and knowledge, Scarlett is on the hunt for an ancient stone with untold powers, determining through much research and riddle-solving that it lies beneath the streets of Paris. Convincing a group of fellow explorers to join her, the adult Goonies head deep into the underground catacombs, discovering a terrifying secret that lies below the surface.

Yes, As Above, So Below is another in a long line of POV/’found footage’ horror movies, but the joy of the film is that it’s not quite like the others. Trading in the typical haunted house or some such other haunted location for a hellish underground cave system ripped straight out of The Descent, this particular entry in the sub-genre is refreshing enough to feel different, the unique setting impressively serving to break the inherent ‘I can’t tell this one apart from the others’ curse of found footage horror.

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The star of the show here is not the characters and it’s truthfully not even the story. While both are totally serviceable and more than get the job done, the highlight here is the underground setting of the film, which brings a whole lot of that wonderful A-word to the proceedings; ATMOSPHERE, of course.

Atmosphere is an element that’s often nonexistent in modern horror films and As Above, So Below has got it in spades, the underground caverns very much feeling like a hellish abyss that there’s simply no escape from. I’m surprised it took someone this long to make a movie about the real-life Catacombs of Paris and As Above mines that atmospheric setting for all it’s worth, imbuing the entirety of the movie with a claustrophobic creepiness that’s quite frankly a delight to be immersed in.

Immersion is really the name of the game here, with the found footage style making the film feel like a virtual haunted attraction from start to finish, all sorts of creepy shit popping up once the real horror element comes into play. I’m talking Grim Reapers, dead loved ones and even vampiric rock monsters – essentially, everything you’d hope to encounter in those glorious haunted houses that are erected in your area around Halloween time.

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While the Event Horizon comparison is thanks to the latter half’s more horrific elements, which thrust each character into his/her own personal Hell, it’s the Goonies-like first half that pleasantly surprised me, as the film is packed with a whole lot of good old fashioned adventure.

From hidden wall panels to riddles that can either kill or aid in the journey, As Above, So Below is as much of an adventure film as it is a horror film, and the fusion of the two keeps the movie engaging and entertaining every single step of the way. There’s literally not a dull moment to be found here, which is a whole lot more than can be said about most found footage movies.

Though it doesn’t exactly reinvent the POV wheel, and though the ending admittedly provides little payoff for the sheer madness that precedes it (the intended message was appreciated, however), As Above, So Below is nevertheless one of the better ‘found footage’ films in recent years, and in fact one of the better theatrically released horror films to come along in some time.

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Rather than relying on the cliches of the sub-genre to tell its story, this little gem instead tells its own story while merely using the style as a storytelling aide, the film serving as a reminder that it’s not the style that’s bad, but rather the rampant poor execution of it. It’s unique and it totally stands apart from the pack, which is plenty enough to earn a recommendation from this particular fan.

The title is silly, and I sincerely hated speaking it aloud at my local theater last night, but As Above, So Below is a pretty damn solid horror flick, well worth you calling out its name at your local theater and plopping down the money to experience it.

So buy the ticket. Take the ride.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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Original Blair Witch Cast Ask Lionsgate for Retroactive Residuals in Light of New Film

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The Blair Witch Project Cast

Jason Blum is planning to reboot The Blair Witch Project for the second time. That’s a fairly large task considering none of the reboots or sequels have managed to capture the magic of the 1999 film that brought found footage into the mainstream.

This idea has not been lost on the original Blair Witch cast, who has recently reached out to Lionsgate to ask for what they feel is fair compensation for their role in the pivotal film. Lionsgate gained access to The Blair Witch Project in 2003 when they purchased Artisan Entertainment.

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The Blair Witch Project Cast

However, Artisan Entertainment was an independent studio before its purchase, meaning the actors were not part of SAG-AFTRA. As a result, the cast are not entitled to the same residuals from the project as actors in other major films. The cast doesn’t feel that the studio should be able to continue to profit off of their hard work and likenesses without fair compensation.

Their most recent request asks for “meaningful consultation on any future ‘Blair Witch’ reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc., in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.”

The blair witch project

At this time, Lionsgate has not offered any comment about this issue.

The full statement made by the cast can be found below.

OUR ASKS OF LIONSGATE (From Heather, Michael & Josh, stars of “The Blair Witch Project”):

1. Retroactive + future residual payments to Heather, Michael and Josh for acting services rendered in the original BWP, equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made.

2. Meaningful consultation on any future Blair Witch reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc…, in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.

Note: Our film has now been rebooted twice, both times were a disappointment from a fan/box office/critical perspective. Neither of these films were made with significant creative input from the original team. As the insiders who created the Blair Witch and have been listening to what fans love & want for 25 years, we’re your single greatest, yet thus-far un-utilized secret-weapon!

3. “The Blair Witch Grant”: A 60k grant (the budget of our original movie), paid out yearly by Lionsgate, to an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making theirfirst feature film. This is a GRANT, not a development fund, hence Lionsgate will not own any of the underlying rights to the project.

A PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTORS & PRODUCERS OF “THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT”:

As we near the 25th anniversary of The Blair Witch Project, our pride in the storyworld we created and the film we produced is reaffirmed by the recent announcement of a reboot by horror icons Jason Blum and James Wan.

While we, the original filmmakers, respect Lionsgate’s right to monetize the intellectual property as it sees fit, we must highlight the significant contributions of the original cast — Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Mike Williams. As the literal faces of what has become a franchise, their likenesses, voices, and real names are inseparably tied to The Blair Witch Project. Their unique contributions not only defined the film’s authenticity but continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

We celebrate our film’s legacy, and equally, we believe the actors deserve to be celebrated for their enduring association with the franchise.

Sincerely, Eduardo Sanchez, Dan Myrick, Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie, and Michael Monello

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