Beneath Us All movie review (Harley Wallen, Sean Whalen, Maria Olsen)

Beneath Us All, directed by Painted Creek Productions in partnership with Westside Warrior Films and Cama Productions, takes a new look at the dynamics of families and survival in the vampire genre. The plot revolves around Julie (Angelina Danielle Cama), a foster teenager approaching adulthood who discovers an antique casket in the forest. Inside is a hidden and hungry beast, a vampire who hasn’t eaten in over a thousand years. Unknown to Julie, her discovery sets off a horrific sequence of events that threatens not just her but also the fragile family she lives with. Julie’s foster home is far from ideal, with Todd (Sean Whalen) functioning as an aggressive parent, making her reality terrifying even before the supernatural joins the scene. When she mistakenly releases the vampire, dressed as an injured man, his desire for blood increases, making him stronger and more deadly. As the film progresses, the story explores how a dysfunctional family must band together in the face of an ancient evil, bringing emotional depth to the terror. Beneath Us All is aesthetically pleasing with exceptional cinematography that contributes to the frightening atmosphere. The lighting, while humble, works well in keeping a professional appearance and boosts the film’s dark themes. The sound design is equally significant in increasing tension and emphasizing the supernatural components of the plot. This film stands out because it reinvents the vampire legend. Instead of focusing just on an ageless predatory animal, Beneath Us All explores themes of family, dedication, and the various types of danger that exist in both the supernatural and the human world. The video brilliantly emphasizes that threats, like vampires, can take numerous forms, from ancient creatures to “toxic” family members. While Beneath Us All uses common horror stereotypes, it provides an exciting, carefully planned visual experience that combines gothic horror with a modern “emotional family horror.” Fans of indie horror films and vampire mythology will find this to be an interesting and valuable contribution to the genre.

Information: Beneath Us All (2023) – IMDb