beneath

Writer/director Larry Fessenden, the “buzzy” director behind indie horrors like Habit (1997) and Wendigo (2001) tries his hand at more traditional scares with Beneath (2013), a Chiller Network production about a giant fish stalking a boatful of annoying teenagers celebrating their last big high-school hurrah. This conventional set-up turns into an exercise in unconventional storytelling as Fessenden lets the teens kill themselves off. The monster simply cleans the tank.

Make no mistake, Beneath isn’t that clever. But it definitely thinks it is. Deep down it’s just another dead teenager movie. Yet these teens turn on each other as the situation becomes more desperate, a switcheroo that challenges the actors and the viewers who probably just tuned in to watch Jaws in a rowboat. The movie itself isn’t always equal to the challenge, but it makes for more interesting viewing that most Mega Boa vs. Gatoroid fare.

For genre fans, Fessenden’s choice to bring his monster fish to life using animatronic effects is a big check in the “plus” column. Except for some shots that linger a few frames too long, the creature is very convincing with minimal CGI assistance. Although it’s naïve to imagine Beneath would inspire a practical effects renaissance, at the very least it shows that there’s still a place for them in today’s digitally obsessed cinematic landscape.

In fact, the fish might be the best actor in the bunch. Beneath’s no-name cast of 20-somethings give it the ‘ol college try, but they’re too gosh-darn earnest to pull off what Fessenden asks of them. Or maybe it’s the fact that the shore is only 50 yards away and no one ever truly feels in jeopardy. The BFFs decision to starting voting each other off the boat seems a bit ridiculous considering if they just wait an hour or so they’d probably wash up safely on the beach.

But quibbles about plausibility aside, Beneath is Fessenden’s most accessible work to date. It’s Saturday night fun from a director who too often leaves you with a Sunday morning hangover. Definitely worth watching as a hip update to classic creature features.

Scream Factory’s blu-ray looks miles better than the Chiller Network version that premiered a few months back. The outdoor photography really pops with color and details. Special features include a Fessenden commentary (joined by his sound designer), an hour-long Making Of, webisodes and featurettes about the obvious Jaws influence.