Below Utopia (1997)

Director:

Kurt Voss

Writers (WGA):

Richard Shepard (story) and
David Diamond (story) ...

Release Date:

26 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He was a hired professional. But this was personal.

Plot:

Daniel returns to his family's mansion for the holidays along with his girlfriend Susanne. His family's...

Plot Keywords:

Gangsta Grip | Independent Film

Cast

Alyssa Milano	...	Susanne
Justin Theroux	...	Daniel Beckett
Ice-T	...	Jim (as Ice T)
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Tiny (as Tommy 'Tiny' Lister)
Richard Danielson	...	Cole
Nicholas Walker	...	Justin Beckett
Robert Pine	...	Uncle Wilson
Jeanette O'Connor	...	Aunt Estelle
Ron Harper	...	Jack Beckett
Marta Kristen	...	Marilyn Beckett
Eric Saiet	...	Cousin Allen

Also Known As:

Body Count (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

88 min | Germany:83 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:18 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | UK:18 (video premiere) | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Subutopian Films Inc.

Trivia:

According to Alyssa Milano, co-star Ice-T showed up on set one day with 17 bodyguards.

Goofs:

Continuity: Cousin Ed dies lying face down but after Susanne and Daniel return to the house he is lying on his right side.

Soundtrack:

Still Want You

Tense and Suspenseful

What a horror story it was getting a chance to see this movie! The first time I rented it, it got stuck in the VCR and busted the thing up, and I had to dissect the machine to free the tape. Then I rented it again, and found it was another movie called Body Count and had to go back in and get this one, and finally, I held my breath and watched this, and saw that it was worth all the hassles. (Including buying a new VCR!)

Daniel, a young preppy, is coming to his family's enormous mansion in the boonies with his girlfriend Susanne for Thanksgiving dinner. Their are family tensions, and Daniel is excommunicated from the family. In hope for escape, he heads down into the basement with Susanne, and just as they are getting comfortable, three art thieves break in and kill the whole family. The couple listens in terror, and struggles to plan and figure out a way to escape. They soon realize they must kill these three men, and they learn to fight back, all up to the last fifteen minutes, when everything suddenly takes a wild turn, and soon more conflicts than ever before are introduced. And the body count is raised.

This really was a great movie. It was very short, so there is little filler, and just a lot of excitement. The acting is surprisingly good, with Ice-T in a typical role, charming Thoreaux, and show-stealing Milano. She played a great role, and is underrated. Despite some exploits during the two unrevealing sex scenes, she is professional and impressive. During the first half-hour, when things are calm, she is obviously uncomfortable, and trying to fit in with this hostile family. She uses voice tones and facial expressions quite well, and when the horror starts, she isn't gun-ho, she's what you would expect: terrified and forced to fight. I commend her on a great role. As for the twist that comes near the end, yes, I realize it was quite obvious, but still, it's good to anticipate. And it didn't deter from the suspense and the excitement, and I held my breath to the very end. I definitely recommend this movie, even if it does mean going through three video store trips and a broken VCR. : )