As Above, So Below (2014) is a decent horror film, in the "documentary" (hand held camera) film style pioneered by the Blair Witch Project (1999). It is also a film with a fair number of plot problems. But first the "good news".
The basic premise of the film is actually quite cool -- for a slasher/horror film.
"Scarlett" is a gifted archaeologist/alchemy scholar, who has been continuing her late father's quest for the fabled Flamel stone. Legend speaks of this stone, crafted by Nicholas Flamel, as having the ability to create gold and grant eternal life.
Her search -- which is not always strictly legal -- earns the attention of a documentary film crew, led by "Benji". Thus the "hand held" camera style used throughout the film is intended to be part of the documentary's film project.
Alas, the stone and the final resting place of Flamel remain a mystery, or do they? Scarlett persuades her ex-boyfriend -- "George" -- who is good with reading dead languages to help her dig deeper.
All clues point to the vast (and quite creepy) Catacombs that lie beneath Paris. Since neither Scarlett or George has experience with exploring the ancient caves, they enlist the help of a group of local youth; "Papillon", his girlfriend "Souxie", and friend "Zed".
Eventually, treasure hunting in the French Catacombs takes the team into hell (talk about the "other side of the tracks").
It is in this last part of the film, that things tend to get silly, if not also needlessly confusing.
Apparently, team members are being killed off by the ghost or the person that they "done wrong", although this is not handled well and sometimes it would seem that supernatural punishment is being merited out because people have survivors guilt.
Scarlett figures out that the best way to escape hell is simply go back the way you came. Really?
The entrance of hell should read, "Abandon all hope, unless you are reasonably intelligent and willing to apologize." Not only is it easy to escape hell, but fighting off Satan or cultist or supernatural killers (again, I am not entirely sure what is behind the killings) requires a simply apology.
Also, given how long it took to make the journey into hell, it is impressive that Scarlett manages to VERY QUICKLY return to Flamel's treasure tomb and return the stone.
In doing so, she gains magical healing powers ("but, can she turn stuff into gold", some might ask).
She also easily knocks down the Satanic stature -- which attacked George -- causing me (and some other people in the audience) to laugh out loud.
After being healed, George and Zed (who is apparently a saint, or simply never feels bad about anything that he does) easily escape from the Catacombs. The credit roll.
The film, As Above, So Below shines brightest when the characters are "above" (read: not in hell). When the treasure hunting adventure into the dark Catacombs turns into some sort of descent into hell, things tend to get confusing, if not downright silly.
The basic premise of the film is actually quite cool -- for a slasher/horror film.
"Scarlett" is a gifted archaeologist/alchemy scholar, who has been continuing her late father's quest for the fabled Flamel stone. Legend speaks of this stone, crafted by Nicholas Flamel, as having the ability to create gold and grant eternal life.
Her search -- which is not always strictly legal -- earns the attention of a documentary film crew, led by "Benji". Thus the "hand held" camera style used throughout the film is intended to be part of the documentary's film project.
Alas, the stone and the final resting place of Flamel remain a mystery, or do they? Scarlett persuades her ex-boyfriend -- "George" -- who is good with reading dead languages to help her dig deeper.
All clues point to the vast (and quite creepy) Catacombs that lie beneath Paris. Since neither Scarlett or George has experience with exploring the ancient caves, they enlist the help of a group of local youth; "Papillon", his girlfriend "Souxie", and friend "Zed".
Eventually, treasure hunting in the French Catacombs takes the team into hell (talk about the "other side of the tracks").
It is in this last part of the film, that things tend to get silly, if not also needlessly confusing.
Apparently, team members are being killed off by the ghost or the person that they "done wrong", although this is not handled well and sometimes it would seem that supernatural punishment is being merited out because people have survivors guilt.
Scarlett figures out that the best way to escape hell is simply go back the way you came. Really?
The entrance of hell should read, "Abandon all hope, unless you are reasonably intelligent and willing to apologize." Not only is it easy to escape hell, but fighting off Satan or cultist or supernatural killers (again, I am not entirely sure what is behind the killings) requires a simply apology.
Also, given how long it took to make the journey into hell, it is impressive that Scarlett manages to VERY QUICKLY return to Flamel's treasure tomb and return the stone.
In doing so, she gains magical healing powers ("but, can she turn stuff into gold", some might ask).
She also easily knocks down the Satanic stature -- which attacked George -- causing me (and some other people in the audience) to laugh out loud.
After being healed, George and Zed (who is apparently a saint, or simply never feels bad about anything that he does) easily escape from the Catacombs. The credit roll.
The film, As Above, So Below shines brightest when the characters are "above" (read: not in hell). When the treasure hunting adventure into the dark Catacombs turns into some sort of descent into hell, things tend to get confusing, if not downright silly.