As Above, So Below (FILM REVIEW)
As Above, So Below
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Catacombs Create Claustrophobic Setting for Harrowing Horror
Flick
The late alchemist, Dr. Marlowe
(Roger Van Hool) lost his mind and then committed suicide over a futile quest for
the Philosopher’s Stone supposedly hidden somewhere in the cryptic maze of catacombs
beneath Paris. Now, his headstrong young daughter, Scarlet (Perdita Weeks), has
decided to follow in daddy’s footsteps by mounting her own search for the
sacred talisman said to turn metal into gold.
The determined Brit has prepared herself for the dangerous trek by
earning not only Ph.D.s in archeology and symbology, but a black belt in karate
to boot. She’s being assisted in this dangerous endeavor by a team comprised of
her linguist ex-boyfriend (Ben Feldman); an African-American cameraman (Edwin
Hodge); a graffiti artist familiar with the caves (Francois Civil); plus a
couple of other local yokels (Marion Lambert and Aly Marhyar).
The motley crew’s descent starts out
unremarkably enough, despite a little gallows humor and worries about whether
they might encounter any bats or rats. The most concerned participant is George
whose little brother Danny (Samuel Aouizerate) drowned in the cave at a young
age. Adding fuel to the fear is the fact that the last time George accompanied
Scarlet on an expedition he ended up in Turkish prison.
This is the ominous point of
departure of As Above, So Below, a found-footage horror flick written and
directed by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine). The film has all the hallmarks of
the genre inaugurated by The Blair Witch Project back in 1999, from the
claustrophobia created by incessant, extreme close-ups to the seasick
cinematography coming courtesy of handheld cameras.
Credit Perdita Weeks as the intrepid
protagonist for keeping her audience enthralled even after the production
morphs into a farfetched cross of Tomb Raider (2001) and The Da Vinci Code
(2006). Whether crawling across piles of skeletons, deciphering ancient Aramaic
messages, or fearlessly repelling down uncharted shafts, spunky Scarlet has the
‘tude and charisma to keep you rooting for her as others meet their fate,
one-by-one.
A harrowing tale of survival
revolving around an endearing heroine every bit as brainy as she is resourceful.
Very Good
(2.5 stars)
Rated R
for terror, graphic violence and pervasive profanity
Running time: 93 minutes
Distributor: Universal
Pictures
To see a trailer for
As Above, So Below, visit:
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