I’ve been reading about this film for a while now, primarily in Fangoria and HorrorHound magazines. Most of the reviews have been favorable, and I’m always up for a new monster movie. However, Beneath, directed by Larry Fessenden, is not your typical “monster on the loose” film—and honestly, I wish it was.
The story follows six high school seniors celebrating one last time before heading off in different directions. They’re all friends, yet they come from different backgrounds. There’s Kitty, the group’s resident flirt; the two jock brothers, Matt and Simon (both of whom have been with Kitty); the film geek Zeke (who filmed Simon and Kitty together); Deb, the only remotely likable character; and Johnny (who also slept with Kitty), the one who seems to know the lake’s dark secret.
The biggest issue here is that nearly every character is insufferable. Except for Deb, they are so grating that they make the movie almost unwatchable. The more you get to know them, the less you like them. When faced with danger—in this case, a monstrous fish—their true nature is revealed, and it’s not pretty. I understand that this is the film’s message. It shows that what lies beneath a person’s surface can be just as monstrous as any creature. However, the execution goes too far. If they had even a shred of redeeming qualities, you would feel bad for them. But they don’t. Deb is the only one with potential, and the movie kills her off before she has a chance to develop. Honestly, the monster is doing the world a favor by picking them off.
One of the film’s most fascinating (and frustrating) aspects is how quickly these so-called friends turn on each other. They lose both oars. Their boat is slowly sinking. Even though the shore is always visible, they never seem to get any closer. Instead of working together, they start deciding who is least valuable to the group and sacrificing them to the fish. This includes dumping Deb’s body overboard without hesitation. The absurdity reaches its peak. They attempt to paddle to shore using their hands. This happens only after tossing someone into the water as bait. Yet, when that person is being devoured, instead of taking advantage of the distraction, they just argue. At one point, four of them are frantically paddling while Zeke just sits there, filming the carnage. I’ve never seen a group of people more deserving of each other.
The film’s one saving grace is its creature effects. The monster is brought to life with full-scale animatronic puppets, and some of the scenes are genuinely impressive. There were moments where I even caught myself wondering, “How’d they pull that off?”
Still, I’m not sure I can recommend this movie. I understand the message: sometimes, the real monsters aren’t the ones lurking beneath the water, but the ones within us. But when the characters are this unlikable, the movie becomes unbearable. If they had been given even the slightest chance at redemption, it would have worked better. Instead, we’re left with a joyless experience. In the end, Kitty and Simon are the last ones standing. Even then, Simon has to strangle Kitty. He does this before trying to escape. At least he gets what’s coming to him.
This isn’t a SyFy Channel original movie, which explains why the effects are better than expected. I’d say watch it once, take it for what it is, and then let it fade from memory. Monster movies should be fun. When they try too hard to be deep, it kills the enjoyment. A cast full of detestable characters doesn’t help, and that’s Beneath’s biggest flaw—it just isn’t any fun.
To read the rest of my Monstrous Movie Reviews, click HERE! If you are brave enough to add this movie to your movie library, click on the Blu-ray movie cover below.
