Beneath Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Teens celebrating graduation get trapped in a boat on a tiny lake with a surprisingly patient monster fish and decide the best survival plan is voting each other off the island… I mean, the boat.

🍿 Beneath: Detailed Plot Synopsis

High School Graduation Trip Gone Wrong

After graduating high school, a group of six friends decides to celebrate with one last outing together. They head to a remote lake, ignoring local warnings about its dangers. Their plan is to cross the lake in a small rowboat.

Trapped in the Middle

Once out on the water, their celebration is cut short when a large, aggressive fish attacks the boat. The creature kills one of the friends and damages their oars, leaving the remaining five stranded in the middle of the lake. They quickly realize they are trapped with no easy way back to shore.

Desperate Measures for Survival

As the monstrous fish circles the boat, fear and desperation set in. The group’s bonds of friendship begin to unravel as they face the grim reality of their situation. They consider drastic measures to distract the creature and potentially allow others to escape, leading to increasing conflict and betrayal among them.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Kitty (Bonnie Dennison): A member of the group whose strained relationships are tested by the life-or-death situation on the boat.
• Johnny (Daniel Zovatto): A quiet member of the group with prior knowledge of the lake who navigates the escalating horror and conflict.
• Simon (Jon Orsini): Johnny’s volatile brother whose true cruel nature emerges as the teenagers are hunted by the creature.
• Matt (Chris Conroy): A self-centered member of the group whose desperation and survival instinct clash with the others.
• Zeke (Griffin Newman): The aspiring filmmaker who continues to record the horrific events, providing a detached perspective on the unfolding tragedy.
• Deb (Mackenzie Rosman): A kind friend and the first victim of the lake’s creature, whose death triggers the group’s descent into desperation.
• Mr. Parks (Mark Margolis): A local resident who attempts to warn the teenagers about the dangerous creature lurking in the lake.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mr. Parks: “I don’t think the lake is done with you yet, son.” – An old man warns Johnny about the dangerous history of the lake before the group heads out on the boat.
• Simon: “We have to vote. Someone has to go over.” – Simon coldly proposes the group decide who to sacrifice to the fish to buy time for the others.
• Kitty: “You can’t do this! We’re friends!” – Kitty pleads with the others as the group’s bonds break down and they turn on each other.
• Zeke: “It’s eating them!” – Said in panic while filming as the creature attacks one of their friends.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,000,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: Unknown

💥 Beneath Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘Beneath’ knowing it was a low-budget monster movie, and boy, did it deliver on the low-budget part! The fish puppet is… well, it’s a puppet. But honestly, sometimes that’s part of the fun, right? It felt kind of nostalgic, like a creature feature from the past. What really got me though was the stuff happening *on* the boat. These characters made some seriously frustrating decisions that had me yelling at the screen. It wasn’t really ‘scary’ in the traditional sense, but the sheer absurdity and the way the ‘friends’ turned on each other was weirdly compelling. I spent most of the movie just wanting certain characters to get eaten already because they were driving me nuts. It’s not a great movie by any stretch, but it’s definitely… an experience. If you like watching annoying people get picked off by a big rubber fish, this might be for you. I won’t lie, I was entertained in a ‘can’t look away from this trainwreck’ kind of way.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of low-budget creature features”
  • “Viewers interested in survival thrillers with a focus on human behavior under pressure”
  • “Those who appreciate practical monster effects over CGI”
  • “Audiences looking for a bleak and cynical take on the horror genre”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and Gore (depictions of fish attacks and injuries)”
  • “Character Betrayal and Moral Decay”
  • “Intense Situations / Trapped Scenario”
  • “Language”

Professional Reviews

• Inspired by User Reviews: “Larry Fessenden’s creature feature attempts a blend of ‘Jaws’ tension and ‘Lifeboat’ human drama, focusing on the breakdown of friendships under extreme pressure. While the practical effects for the fish are a welcome throwback, the film struggles with pacing and relies on increasingly frustrating character decisions to drive the plot. An interesting concept that doesn’t quite land the emotional or thrilling beats needed.
• Inspired by User Reviews: “This low-budget effort benefits from a commitment to practical effects for its central aquatic threat, which some viewers will appreciate over CGI. However, the core problem lies with its unlikable and often illogical characters. Their rapid descent into backstabbing and baffling choices undermines any potential suspense, making it hard to invest in their fate. A noble attempt at a character-driven monster movie, but ultimately sunk by its script.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers couldn’t believe the poor decisions the characters made while stuck in the boat.: Some viewers appreciated the use of practical effects for the monster over CGI.

A common sentiment was rooting for the monster fish to eat the annoying characters.: The film’s attempt to explore human nature under pressure was noted by some, despite execution flaws.

Overall Consensus: Generally perceived as a poorly written horror film with frustrating characters and a goofy-looking monster, though some viewers found merit in its practical effects or saw it as a flawed but interesting character study.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The entire film was shot using natural light, which contributed to its low-budget aesthetic and realistic atmosphere.”
• “The monstrous catfish creature was primarily realized using practical effects and animatronics, a deliberate choice by director Larry Fessenden to avoid CGI.”
• “Filming took place on location in Oxford, Connecticut, specifically within the Naugatuck State Forest.”
• “The estimated budget for the film was $1,000,000.”

🖥️ How to Watch Beneath?

As of late 2023/early 2024, ‘Beneath’ (2013) may not be readily available on major subscription streaming services. However, you can typically find it available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube Movies. Check these platforms for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Beneath, you might like these similar films:

• Jaws (1975): An iconic creature feature where people are hunted by a large aquatic monster, sharing the core premise of survival against a force in the water.
• Lifeboat (1944): A thematic predecessor focusing on a group of strangers trapped in a small boat who must make grim decisions about survival and leadership, highlighting human nature under pressure.
• Piranha (2010): A modern, over-the-top creature feature involving a swarm of killer fish attacking people in a lake setting, offering similar cheesy horror thrills.
• Open Water (2003): A stark survival horror film about people stranded in the water, emphasizing the psychological terror and helplessness of being prey in an open environment.
• Alligator (1980): A cult classic B-movie featuring a giant creature (an alligator) lurking in unexpected waterways, appealing to fans of practical effects-driven monster movies.

🛒 Beneath Related Products

• Beneath (Scream Factory Collector’s Edition Blu-ray): Experience the cult favorite low-budget monster movie ‘Beneath’ with this special collector’s edition Blu-ray, featuring enhanced audio-visuals and bonus content exploring the film’s production and practical effects.
• The Creature Effects Handbook: Prosthetic Makeup, Animatronics, and Stop-Motion Animation: Dive into the world of practical creature effects with this comprehensive guide, covering techniques like prosthetic makeup, animatronics, and more used in films like ‘Beneath’.
• Lifeboat Board Game: A strategy board game where players are stranded in a sinking lifeboat and must work together to survive… or betray each other to secure their own safety, echoing the themes of ‘Beneath’.
• Giant Catfish Plush Toy: A large, cuddly plush toy shaped like a catfish. Perfect for fans with a sense of humor about the movie’s antagonist.

🎧 Soundtrack

Beneath features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Where I Belong” – performed by Just Desserts

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Aliens were hidden beneath the ice the whole time 👽❄️ #movie #series #thetomorrowwar

Ever wonder what terrifying secrets are buried deep under the ice? This short clip from The Tomorrow War shows you a chilling discovery – seriously, the reveal is pretty intense!

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