Below Utopia (1997)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Kurt Voss

Writers (WGA):

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

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:

Ice-T had composed an instrumental musical score for this film that wasn't used. The compositions instead appeared on an CD entitled "Below Utopia: The Lost Score".

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:

While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks

Surprisingly good!

I would not blame you if you did not want to see this movie based on its cast and its plot. Most of the elements just seem likely to add up to a bad movie. I was forced to see it because my boyfriend has an obsession with Alyssa. Should I be embarrassed to be involved with a 25 year old man who works for Congress who owns Alyssa's workout videos entitled "Teen Steam"?? Probably.

At any rate, this movie, unlike Teen Steam, is surprisingly good. It seemed well thought out and equally well executed, with strong and believable performances by Alyssa, Ice T, and Justin Theroux. The film was successful in keeping up suspense, and you definitely wanted to watch until the end when you were most likely surprised by the unveiling of the true criminal.

This film seems to be replayed late nights on cable with some frequency, so be sure to check it out there.