Here is another sci-fi channel original movie that yet again stars Kevin Sorbo. SOMETHING BENEATH borrows it’s plot from films such as THE BLOB, DEEP RISINGS and ALIEN. Some may even say it has the plot of other horror films, and in truth it’s something that takes from a lot of movies, there is even a scene that it very much a tribute to EVIL DEAD. However, it’s far from being a classic and yes it is just another one of those direct to video b-movies that made it’s début on the Sci-fi Channel a few months back.
SOMETHING BENEATH is actually somewhat bearable to watch, compared to the many films that litter the sci-fi channel each year. In fact after reviewing NEVER CRY WEREWOLF and now this film, I must say it looks like they are getting a little better with the production value and the scripts, but the originality is lacking. Anyway… in a nutshell SOMETHING BENEATH is about a group of people who are all attending a ecological conference at some hotel. While staying there the guests realize that the plumbing in the place is no good, as when they go to turn on the shower or wash their hands in the sink, nothing but black slime oozes from the faucets. But this is not your normal everyday run of the mill brown water, it is in fact a biological agent that makes the guests biggest fears a reality and they begin to die from the experience of their biggest fear. The greedy hotel manager and owner, knowing how important this conference means to the future of the hotel, begin to hide the bodies of the guest found dead. However the event coordinator (Natalie Brown) and a priest (Kevin Sorbo) find out about the bodies and begin to investigate what’s going on. What they find is an odd alien like creature is living in the sewer system below the hotel and is using it’s slime to lure unsuspected guests to their deaths.
Pretty much what you see is what you get. Another low budget b-movie with a horror sci-fi twist to it. It’s one of those movies that uses the less is more routine when it comes to the death scenes, using cutaway camera tricks and leaving the audience left to use their imagination during the scenes that would require a lot of visual effects to explain what just happened. Sure it does have some visual effects but they are mainly used towards the end of the film and yes, the monster which looks like a poor version of the giant squid monster from DEEP RISINGS, comes out and makes it’s appearance. However during one scene in the sewer the creature looks like something H.R. Giger created.
Anyway, the acting is alright, the script is pretty decent for a direct to television movie and it is one of those movies that I will admit is better than the normal Sci-fi original movie. It’s not really a scary film, as I don’t really think that it will scare anyone. What is however a surprise is that I’ve been speaking with many people who sit down on a Saturday night and actually enjoy many of the films that the sci-fi channel put on. Just today I was talking with an in-law who told me he enjoyed this movie and is a big fan of these movies. I honestly thought that no one watched them, but this is not the first time I’ve heard of someone enjoying these movies. I guess there really is a following for today’s low-budget B-movies.
Overall, While I don’t think SOMETHING BENEATH is a great movie, it does have it’s moments that will keep your attention. But a viewer you need to remember that this is not a Hollywood budgeted film with Michael Bay like effects and great production value. So it a movie you need to go into with an open mind and a sense to just have fun with.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
