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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?).

[youtube id=”GRrZZNyOqyY”]

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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News

Brad Dourif Says He’s Retiring Except For One Important Role

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Brad Dourif has been doing movies for nearly 50 years. Now it seems he is walking away from the industry at 74 to enjoy his golden years. Except, there is a caveat.

Recently, digital entertainment publication JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols talked to some of the Chucky television series cast members. During the interview, Dourif made an announcement.

“Dourif said that he’s retired from acting,” says Nichols. “The only reason he came back for the show was because of his daughter Fiona and he considers Chucky creator Don Mancini to be family. But for non-Chucky stuff, he considers himself retired.”

Dourif has voiced the possessed doll since 1988 (minus the 2019 reboot). The original movie “Child’s Play” has become such a cult classic it’s at the top of some people’s best chillers of all time. Chucky himself is ingrained in pop culture history much like Frankenstein or Jason Voorhees.

While Dourif may be known for his famous voiceover, he is also an Oscar-nominated actor for his part in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Another famous horror role is The Gemini Killer in William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist III. And who can forget Betazoid Lon Suder in Star Trek: Voyager?

The good news is that Don Mancini is already pitching a concept for season four of Chucky which might also include a feature-length movie with a series tie-in. So, Although Dourif says he is retiring from the industry, ironically he is Chucky’s friend till the end.

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Editorial

7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch

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The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.

The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.

We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.

Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?

Scream Live (2023)

Scream Live

Ghostface (2021)

Ghostface

Ghost Face (2023)

Ghost Face

Don’t Scream (2022)

Don’t Scream

Scream: A Fan Film (2023)

Scream: A Fan Film

The Scream (2023)

The Scream

A Scream Fan Film (2023)

A Scream Fan Film
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Movies

Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month

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Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.

Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.

According to IMDb: Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.

Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.

Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.

Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.

While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.

Infested

According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “He’s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”

The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.

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