A Tale as Old as Time
Today we’re talking about What Lies Beneath—a movie that’s still a bit of a mystery to me. Not the film itself, but the film’s position within the horror genre and its relationship with horror fans. It was commercially released in 2000, and while it might not have been at the absolute height of Harrison Ford’s and Michelle Pfeiffer’s careers, they were (and still remain) two huge names in Hollywood. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by ImageMovers, and was distributed by DreamWorks Pictures. These are big names, people! You could’ve visited any theater in July of 2000 and found What Lies Beneath playing. A great story with great acting, all polished with that big production varnish. It was the tenth highest-grossing film of the year and was nominated for three Saturn awards. Sure, it received some mixed reviews, but it was by no means a flop. And it wipes the floor with some of the commercially released drivel being spoon-fed to horror fans today. So, what happened? Why do so few people know about this gem? And why is it too often missing from all those lists of the Greatest Horror Movies of the 2000s? For a film of this caliber, it should’ve gone down as a fan favorite. Instead, film-lovers are too often surprised to learn Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer starred in a horror movie together.
I vividly remember seeing What Lies Beneath in the theater. I couldn’t tell you which—it feels like I’ve visited nearly every theater in Los Angeles County. But I remember the viewing well. Back then, I wasn’t well versed enough in horror to appreciate what an oddity this film was. Sure, I was a horror fan, but I wasn’t as familiar with the genre’s history as I am now, and I certainly didn’t understand how rare it was to see two huge, well-respected names in a horror film. Acting in horror used to be considered the kiss of death. That, and acting in commercials or on TV. Those were absolute kill shots, straight to the heart of your career. Not to suggest big-budget horror never existed. It did, sparsely sprinkled here & there. Psycho, The Exorcist, Jaws, The Shining, and Halloween are reminders that horror has always had the ability to rake in high numbers at the box office. But generally speaking, horror was considered a lesser art form. Even today, horror is still widely considered lowbrow despite recent contributions by brilliant filmmakers like Flanagan, Aster, Peele, and Kent (to name just a few). All this to say: actors like Pfeiffer and Ford teaming up to do horror was, and is, a rarity.
I have my theory about why this film continues to lurk in the shadows. But let’s get to why we’re talking about What Lies Beneath. Lots of films live in relative obscurity—nothing exciting about that—and many earned their obscurity. But not What Lies Beneath. It’s a quality film. And I don’t mean that it’s a good movie just for horror fans. No, no. It’s an objectively good film that anyone can enjoy, because at its heart, What Lies Beneath is a truly classic ghost story. I won’t go into the acting. It goes without saying that Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford can certainly hold their own. While both of them have the propensity for the dramatics (a byproduct of their generation and what they gleaned from actors who came before them, I’m sure), they’re both great at what they do. I mean…they’re both Oscar winners. Enough said. But it doesn’t stop at the acting. The production value is also what you’d expect from a film of this caliber. It looks great, feels great, and sounds great, with an excellent soundtrack that sits on my list of the best horror scores. Even the CG in this film was done well. Yeah, it’s a wee bit dated, but they used it sparingly and to great effect. I’m usually not a fan of CG, but What Lies Beneath is a prime example of how and when to use it, and in a manner that propels the story forward and adds to its ambience, as opposed to hindering the viewer’s ability to suspend disbelief.
You’re getting the picture: What Lies Beneath is a good film. Solid. Established. Yada yada. But where this film leaves it mark is in the storytelling. A young girl goes off to college, leaving her parents (particularly her mother) alone in a big, beautiful house, where peculiar things begin to happen. Could it be the over imagination of a mother suffering from empty nest syndrome? Maybe. But it could always be more.
Nothing makes me happier than when horror colors outside the lines and gives a middle finger to conventional storytelling. Originality and creativity go hand-in-hand, and it’s an outfit horror looks stellar in. But there’s something to be said for classic horror—the reliable tropes that, when done well, are still so damn satisfying. At our core, we’re pretty simple creatures, and most of us fear the same things, relatively speaking. Classic ghost stories sit at the center of our collective fears. Life, death, and…well…what lies beneath. They’re languages everyone speaks, and when they mingle on the same playground, all sorts of magnificent oddities occur. This is why we’ll always love classic ghost stories, and What Lies Beneath is an excellent example of what can happen when life, death, and the unknown collide.
Some films hold particularly odd characteristics worthy of discussing. Others are so unique they need to be dissected a bit. What Lies Beneath falls under neither of those categories. It’s simple enough to say that it’s wonderfully atmospheric, delightfully chilling without being scary, and whole bunches of spooky fun without blood & guts. Dare I say, it’s family horror for those with older kiddos. Or, to put it in terms that will lead to my theory regarding this film’s obscurity: it’s horror your parents will enjoy. I know, I know. That sounds awful, but don’t throw your dirty socks at me just yet. While nowhere near boring, What Lies Beneath is character driven. It’s thoughtful, grown up, and patient. It isn’t a gore-fest, nor are there copious amounts of breasts parrading about—or any, for that matter. Horror often feels the need to throw too much at the audience. As if we’re all sugar-addled children with ADD, horror sometimes distracts us with nudity, blood, and extreme violence, all without an actual storyline to guide all the madness. These horror tricks most certainly do not make for horror ma & pa can get down with, nor are they family friendly.
What Lies Beneath is parent friendly. Hell, it even stars two of their favorite, fellow baby-boomers. And I believe that has at least a little something to do with why it didn’t perform as well at it could have, and why so few people are familiar with it. Horror often attracts younger audiences—particularly the junk food horror previously discussed. Back in 2000, when trailers for What Lies Beneath began airing, I’m convinced younger viewers saw two of their parents’ favorite actors and decided the film wasn’t for them. Now, here’s where it gets a bit tricky for this super rad movie. Flip that coin over, and you’ve got baby-boomers who watched the same trailer and might’ve wondered why the hell Han Solo was acting in horror. I get it, I’m generalizing a bit here. But that doesn’t negate the validity of my point. Women from my mother’s generation didn’t (and still don’t) tend to love horror. There are exceptions, but I’ve found that to be the case in most instances. Men from the same generation weren’t as likely to watch female-led horror. So, you’ve got “youngsters” who thought What Lies Beneath wasn’t for them, and Baby-Boomers who were too busy wondering why Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer were starring in a horror movie to go out and watch it. When it boils down to it, I believe viewers weren’t sure who the film was meant for, which could lead to a complex discussion regarding societal expectations, but that’s for another time. Outside of my theory, this movie’s obscurity is utterly beyond me and completely undeserved. Having said all that, some have seen this film. Not a lot, but some, and the viewers I’ve spoken to really loved it.
Next time you’re in the mood for a solid, fun horror flick, show What Lies Beneath a little love. I’m talking to you, you bratty, meddling kids. And you, too, you old geezers! Pop some corn, narrow that generational divide, and enjoy a spooky little treat starring Han Solo and Catwoman. I can't say all the cool kids are doing it, but I promise you'll have a good time.
Comentários