The Underneath (1995)

A recovering gambling addict attempts to reconcile with his family and friends but finds trouble and temptation when caught between feelings for his ex-wife and her dangerous hoodlum boyfriend.

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writers:

Don Tracy (novel), Steven Soderbergh (screenplay) (as Sam Lowry)

Stars:

Peter Gallagher, Elisabeth Shue, Alison Elliott

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Gallagher	...	Michael Chambers
Alison Elliott	...	Rachel
William Fichtner	...	Tommy Dundee
Adam Trese	...	David Chambers
Joe Don Baker	...	Clay Hinkle
Paul Dooley	...	Ed Dutton
Shelley Duvall	...	Nurse
Elisabeth Shue	...	Susan Crenshaw
Anjanette Comer	...	Mrs. Chambers
Dennis Hill	...	Guard Tom
Harry Goaz	...	Guard Casey
Mark Feltch	...	Guard George
Jules Sharp	...	Hinkle's Assistant
Kenneth D. Harris	...	Mantrap Guard
Vincent Gaskins	...	Michael's Partner

Storyline

Michael Chambers returns home to celebrate his mother's marriage. Michael had been ousted from his home town due to his gambling indiscretions and had left his wife to deal with the mess he created. He now must reassimilate back into the town, renew his relationships with his family and friends (and enemies) and, most of all, seek out his ex-wife to woo her again. In the process, he obtains a job working with his mother's new husband as an armored car driver. He almost seems the perfect prodigal son as he finds his niche back in the community and his way back into his ex's heart. His troubles surmount when he and his wife are caught in the act by her hoodlum boyfriend/fiancé. To get out of this predicament, Michael must concoct a plan to heist of a payroll being carried by his armored car company.

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Plot Keywords:

armored car | lottery | female to male foot in crotch | robbery | pool hall | 

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Taglines:

For passion, betrayal and murder... there's still no place like home.

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence, language and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Underneath

Filming Locations:

Bastrop State Park, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$536,023

Company Credits

Production Co:

Populist Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name 'Jeanette Scott', mentioned during the hospital scene, is actually the name of the film's Set Decorator.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Susan Crenshaw: Are you getting off at Austin?

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Connections

References Wheel of Fortune (1983)

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Soundtracks

Gals Panic
Composed by Stephen May, Lance Myers, Jeremy Pollett
Performed by Gal's Panic
(p) Varèse Sarabande, 1995

User Reviews

Weird & twisted thriller/drama

I find 'The Underneath' to be a 'weird' movie, and I don't mean 'weird' in a good way. It's weird in a negative way, it just doesn't make sense in some parts, like the stranger in the hospital, or the hidden agendas of everyone in this movie.

I think the scriptwriter wanted to make this a cool-twisted thriller, but it came out as a mashed up incoherent drama.

Peter Gallagher was good and William Fichtner even better, but they were not enough to save this movie from being boring and incoherent. Too bad Elisabeth Shue didn't have more scenes and we didn't get to see more of Adam Trese's character which left more questions than answers.

I suggest you watch this movie only if you have nothing better to do.