I have always felt that critics were dead wrong about As Above, So Below. It’s an intense and inventive spin on the found footage genre. It’s like National Treasure: Book of Shadows. See what I did there? I dig the film so much that I previously championed it via my Dread Central column, The Overlooked Motel. As it turns out, I’m not the only defender of this underrated feature. Hush director Mike Flanagan also considers the flick noteworthy and effective, so much so that the picture graces a Letterboxd list he created showcasing his favorite horror films.
Where is As Above, So Below streaming?
Now, that’s an enthusiastic endorsement from a fella who knows a thing or two about horror cinema. If you have thus far overlooked As Above, So Below, you are in luck. The film is now available to stream on Netflix.
Even if you are found footage averse, I strongly suggest scoping this picture. It’s framed as a mock documentary, so the camerawork is less choppy than typical found footage fare. Not to mention, the performances are strong, and the atmosphere is on point.
The Dowdle brothers are behind this chilling effort. John Erick Dowdle helmed and co-wrote the flick with brother Drew Dowdle. If you’re unfamiliar with their work, the bros also collaborated on The Poughkeepsie Tapes, another nerve-shredding found footage effort.
What makes this film especially noteworthy is that much of the flick was shot inside the Paris catacombs, as opposed to on a sound stage. In fact, As Above, So Below is the first film to secure permission to shoot in the off-limits area of the mass burial site.
Archaeologist Scarlett Marlowe (Perdita Weeks) has devoted her whole life to finding one of history’s greatest treasures: Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone. According to legend, the artifact can grant eternal life and turn any metal into gold. When she learns that the stone is hidden underground in the Catacombs of Paris, she assembles a crew to guide and document her historic mission. As they begin their descent, the team members have no way of knowing that they are entering their own personal hell.
That’s all we have for you at present. Stay tuned to the site for more recommendations from your favorite filmmakers as we uncover them. Also, don’t forget to follow @DreadCentral on Threads so you never miss one of our updates.
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