Below

Below (2002)

I’ve seen ghost stories set in all kinds of places. From high rise apartment buildings, to the traditional creepy old mansion. But I’ve never seen a ghost story set on a submarine, until I watched Below. The movie is set during WW II and opens with a sub being called on to pick up survivors of a German U-boat attack. They arrived to find just 3 people and take them aboard. But right away we the audience is let in on the fact that things aren’t right with the survivors or the sub that picked them up. This is further complicated by the German ship that is doggedly chasing them down. The longer the chase goes on the more secrets that are revealed. Eventually the sub seems to take on a life of it’s own as it goes out of control heading for an unknown destination.

I do dig a ghost story and this is one of the better ones that I’ve seen in a long time. The story is very tense and has a couple of fun twists at the end. One has to do with the story and the other is just a neat visual. But this movie is way more then a few twists. Central to the plot is a mystery that the characters slowly uncover, which explains why they are being haunted. The 1st time that I watched Below (this wasn’t it) I never saw the solution that wraps things up coming. So I’d have to say that this is a pretty well written movie. I mean I’ve watched all 13 seasons of Murder She Wrote so it isn’t easy slipping one past me.

Even on a 2nd and 3rd viewing when I knew the story already I still got a kick out of the movie. So why does the movie hold up? Because in addition to the story with the mystery and twists Below also delivers a creepy atmosphere and a couple of effective jump scares. This movie uses the claustrophobic setting of the submarine to really create an environment that will keep the audience on edge. At least I was and I’m normally not one to be uncomfortable in tight spaces. But the setting is very creepy and the movie makes wonderful use of shadows and the directional lighting. Plus there are a couple of old school tricks using sound and one bit with a mirror that I found really scary. This is the kind of old school Hollywood tricks that you just don’t see that much anymore and I for one was glad to them used here.

If you are looking for a gory movie then Below isn’t for you. The scares and horror hear are mostly implied. Though we do get a decent head wound and some crispy crewmembers after an accident. But other then that there isn’t much to talk about. The movie does have a wonderful soundtrack that contributes to the atmosphere of the movie and as I’ve already mentioned the lighting is exemplary and really adds to the creepy feeling watching the movie will give most viewers.

This is an old school ghost story that I really enjoyed. I do want to mention that I did review this for another site several years ago and I gave it a perfect 4 out of 4 rating. I’m not going to repeat that here, but it isn’t the movie’s fault. I’ve just become way pickier about what I give that perfect rating to. Still this is a great movie and I highly recommend it.

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer