Movie Review | AS ABOVE SO BELOW
Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Pee'd A Little Rating: 4 out of 5 Drops
Fun Rating: 5 out of 5 Cartwheels
Most of us, when we think of Paris we conjure images of cobblestone streets, sipping a cappuccino at the most adorable little cafe, or a sightseeing visit to the Eiffel Tower. Yeah, that's not what this movie is about... in case the skulls at the top of the movie poster didn't give it away.
This film is about what lies beneath the most romantic city in the world. Catacombs. Miles and miles of dark and musty, scary ass tunnels. YES!
What it's all about:
Scarlett Marlowe (Perdita Weeks), a young alchemy scholar, is continuing her dead father's (Roger Van Hool) work searching for the philosopher's stone, a legendary alchemical substance said to be capable of turning base metals such as lead into gold and granting eternal life. With the help of a former lover, Scarlett plummets herself into the depths of underground Paris where things get a little hairy. Their guide on this journey, a catacomb expert, dead ends them (pun intended) into a tunnel that he forbids them to explore. Of course, there wouldn't be a scary movie if they just took his advice and turned around, so, they venture onward and the evil beneath the cobblestone streets turns out to be their own demons that they must face. Relentless and frightening unsettled skeletons from their closet's past.
My Take:
First, you must understand that I LOVE scary movies. So, I probably am a little lenient. But, why do we watch scary movies? For academy award winning performances? Gripping story telling? No, and no. I watch scary movies to feel like that twelve year-old boy who hid under his mother's arm, one eye closed and the other tightly squinted, adrenaline pumping and sweaty in anticipation of the next horrible sight jumping at me from the screen. And, this movie delivers that.
From creepy anticipatory music to skin crawling, hair raising demons jumping at you, I loved every second of it. My friend thought it slow at first, but I enjoyed the setup and the explanation of exactly how important this stone was that they were willing to risk life and limb for. If you are a scary movie enthusiest, don't hesitate on this one. It is a lot of fun! I recommend a box of Raisinettes, a bourbon and coke and someone who enjoys scary movies as much as you do. There is nothing that brings people closer together than fear bonding. Look it up.
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Be the hero of your own story
-B