Below (2002)

Strange happenings occur on a WW II submarine.

Director:

David Twohy

Writers:

Lucas Sussman, Darren Aronofsky

Stars:

Bruce Greenwood, David Crow, Matthew Davis

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Davis	...	Odell (as Matt Davis)
Bruce Greenwood	...	Brice
Holt McCallany	...	Loomis
Dexter Fletcher	...	Kingsley
Nick Chinlund	...	Chief
Olivia Williams	...	Claire
Scott Foley	...	Coors
Andrew Howard	...	Hoag
Christopher Fairbank	...	Pappy
Chuck Ellsworth	...	Navy Pilot
Crispin Layfield	...	Navy Lookout
Jonathan Hartman	...	Schillings
Sebastian Knapp	...	Sonar #1
Max Casali	...	Air Manifold
Alexis Conran	...	Helmsman

Storyline

In the dark silence of the sea during World War II, the submarine U.S.S. Tiger Shark prowls on what should be a routine rescue mission. But for the shell-shocked crew, trapped together in the sub's narrow corridors and constricted spaces, this is about to become a journey into the sensory delusions, mental deceptions and runaway fear that lurk just below the surface of the ocean and deep inside the human psyche.

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Plot Keywords:

submarine | mirror | shipwreck | mirror does not reflect reality | war crime | 

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Taglines:

Six hundred feet beneath the surface terror runs deep

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Proteus

Filming Locations:

Lake Michigan, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$201,431, 13 October 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$605,562

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,622,015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Protozoa Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Darren Aronofsky, who co-wrote the screenplay, was originally going to direct the film in 1999 but instead made Requiem for a Dream (2000).

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Goofs

Despite the extremely cold air temperature, the crew's breath condensation is not visible. This phenomenon should still occur despite the change in pressure, air composition, and humidity.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Brice: [hands coordinates to Loomis]
Lt. Loomis: This is almost a day behind us, sir.
Lt. Loomis: Well who are they? Americans, Brits, Italians? It doesn't even say.
Brice: Well I think we can assume they're friendly, Mr. Loomis. Besides, it doesn't appear to be a suggestion, does it.

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Crazy Credits

The only thing in the opening credits is the movie's title. Everything else is only shown after the movie is over.

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Connections

Referenced in The Noah Movie Deception (2014)

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Soundtracks

Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing)
Written by Louis Prima
Performed by Benny Goodman

User Reviews

Subtle, understated, and effective

Periodically I go through fits where I'm convinced that the American public is losing the capacity for thought in entertainment; that 99% of the movie-going public has reached the point where every smallest nuance must be telegraphed as loudly and as blatantly as possible, and any intelligent content must be simplified so it's comprehensible to the lowest common denominator.

Below is not like that.

This is a movie that simultaneously gives one hope (that something this stylish and subtle could be made in 2002), and despair (that the studio has shown so little faith in it that they've cast it adrift without any advertising or backing). Why this hasn't received even one quarter of the attention of Ghost Ship I can't fathom--if you have a choice, go see Below instead.

If you like beautifully photographed, well-thought-out eerie psychological horror films that don't tie everything up in a nice pretty package of explanations in the final shots, and are willing to give the relatively unknown but excellent cast a shot, then by all means hunt this one down.

9 out of 10