🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Bradley Parker
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Release year: 2021
- Runtime (length): 1h 28min
- IMDb rating: 4.3/10 (6.1K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A group of city slickers accidentally unearth a subterranean monster family and must team up with some surly locals to stop the creatures from escaping their underground coal mine prison; Appalachian justice ensues.
🍿 The Devil Below: Detailed Plot Synopsis
The Mystery of Shookum Hills
A group of adventurers, led by Arianne, seeks out Shookum Hills, a town vanished from maps decades ago due to a coal mine fire. They believe a rare mineral is the key to the town’s disappearance. Their quest leads them to an abandoned mine, protected by an electrified fence.

Into the Abyss
The team discovers a sinkhole, triggering a series of unfortunate events. Terry is dragged into the hole, and the team is confronted by hostile locals. They soon discover that monstrous creatures inhabit the tunnels, revealing the true reason for the town’s abandonment.

Unveiling the Truth
Arianne learns the expedition’s true purpose: to exploit the rare mineral. Captured by the creatures, she discovers their hive-like colony and a monstrous queen. In a desperate act, she uses a grenade to destroy the queen, allowing her to escape with Darren.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Arianne (Alicia Sanz): An adventurer who leads a team to Shookum Hills and ultimately fights the underground creatures.
- Darren (Adan Canto): The team leader who hides his true intentions for the expedition, seeking a rare mineral for a coal mining company.
- Schuttmann (Will Patton): A former mine owner who knows the truth about the monsters and dedicates his life to containing them.
- Shawn (Chinaza Uche): One of the scientists, who gets captured and meets a gruesome end at the hands of the creatures.
- Jaime (Zach Avery): A member of the exploration team who accompanies Arianne into the sinkhole and dies attempting to fight the creatures with a grenade.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Arianne: “What the hell is this place?” – Arianne says this expressing curiosity and confusion upon discovering the abandoned and isolated Shookum Hills.
- Schuttmann: “Some things are best left buried.” – Warns about the dangers lurking beneath Shookum Hills, hinting at the horrors he knows exist.
- Darren: “There’s something down there.” – Said with a mix of excitement and trepidation as the team begins to realize the true nature of what they’ve found.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $2,650,800
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: $12,008
💥 The Devil Below Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so ‘The Devil Below’ definitely scratched my creature-feature itch! The whole abandoned town vibe was super creepy, and those monsters were genuinely unnerving, especially when they were barely visible. The scenes in the mine were intense, and I was constantly holding my breath, waiting for something to jump out. While the ending felt a little rushed, I enjoyed the ride and would totally recommend it for a fun, scary movie night!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of creature features”
- “Viewers who enjoy horror films set in claustrophobic environments”
- “Those interested in stories about hidden communities and underground mysteries”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Intense horror violence”
- “Creature attacks”
- “Gore”
- “Strong language”
Professional Reviews
- HorrorNews.net: “Offers some genuinely creepy moments and the creature design is surprisingly effective, especially given the budget. The pacing is brisk, which helps to maintain a sense of tension, but the plot is predictable and the characters lack depth.
- Film Threat: “The Devil Below gets points for its creepy atmosphere and a few decent scares, but ultimately suffers from a lack of originality and some questionable character decisions. A fairly routine creature feature.
- OC Movie Reviews: “Despite a serviceable premise and a few decent performances, The Devil Below fails to deliver anything truly memorable or scary. The dark and claustrophobic setting becomes monotonous, and the monsters are only glimpsed in fleeting, unsatisfying shots.
Audience Reactions
The suspenseful atmosphere kept viewers on the edge of their seats.: Many appreciated the creepy setting and the feeling of constant dread.
Fans enjoyed the practical effects and creature designs.: Despite the limited visibility, the monster reveals were effective.
Overall Consensus: A low-budget creature feature that delivers some effective scares and suspense, but ultimately suffers from a predictable plot and uninspired characters. Worth a watch for genre fans, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The original title of the film was ‘Shookum Hills’, named after the abandoned town where the story takes place.”
- “The film utilizes practical effects for the creatures, combined with some CGI enhancements, to create a more tangible horror experience.”
- “Filming took place in Mt Vernon, Kentucky, leveraging the natural landscapes to create the Appalachian setting.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Devil Below?
Currently, “The Devil Below” is available for streaming purchase or rental on various platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred platform for availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Devil Below, you might like these similar films:
- The Descent (2005): Both films involve a group of explorers encountering subterranean creatures in a claustrophobic cave setting.
- Tremors (1990): Features a remote town terrorized by underground monsters, with the residents banding together to fight back.
- Deep Rising (1998): Deals with a creature attacking a group of people unexpectedly.
- As Above, So Below (2014): Explorers descend into catacombs.
🛒 The Devil Below Related Products
- Tremors (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]: A limited edition Blu-ray of Tremors, the cult classic creature feature. Comes with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and artwork.
- The Descent [Blu-ray]: A limited edition Blu-ray of The Descent, the cult classic creature feature. Comes with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and artwork.
- Funko Pop! Movies: Alien – Ellen Ripley: A Funko Pop! figure of Ellen Ripley from the movie Alien, perfect for displaying with your movie collection.
- Creature from the Black Lagoon (Universal Monsters) Action Figure: A highly detailed action figure of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a classic movie monster.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Devil Below features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Appalachian Nightmare” – performed by Jed Kurzel
- “Deep Mine” – performed by Harry Manfredini
- “Shookum’s End” – performed by Christopher Young
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The creatures are subterranean monsters that live in the abandoned coal mines beneath Shookum Hills. They are aggressive, territorial, and organized in a hive-like colony, with a large queen at its center. The film doesn’t provide a clear origin story for them.
Shookum Hills is a fictional town in the Appalachian Mountains that was abandoned due to the creatures living in the mines below. The town has been removed from maps and its existence is actively suppressed by the remaining locals.
The movie was filmed in Mt Vernon, Kentucky, USA, with the mine scenes specifically filmed in Slade, Kentucky. The Slade mine location is open for tours.
🔥 Bonus Content
The Devil Below (2021) Carnage Count
Curious how many unfortunate souls met their end in The Devil Below? This video meticulously counts every single death! Honestly, I was surprised by the final number – see if you can guess it before watching!
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