Review of As Above, So Below (2014) by Andreas M — 01 Sep 2014
The premise to this movie is intriguing, and the set up is captivating. The first half-hour you're dragged into an "Indiana Jones" like scenario with this impending dark tone, and it's wonderful.
Even that first scene in the tunnels with the telephone ringing is played perfectly. The atmosphere and tension is built up wonderfully, and the mythos (entrenched in real history) is just as good. This could have been something remarkable, but as it drags on it really falls into it's own confusion.
The characters don't grow (even though that's the point of the movie), and you don't feel for them. The allusions to things like Lucifer, and the Grim Reaper aren't fully played out, when they could have/should have.
The found footage is okay, and they mostly ignore it and leave out the "I have to film this because it's all I have left" cliche. They just keep filming and you accept it and it's not weird.
However, occasionally it ruins the suspense. It's not filmed in a you-can't-see-it so it's more scary way. The movie begs to have you see all of it's symbols and allusions, and so those two things don't go hand in hand.
It's mostly a fun time (minus a few logical and acting befuddles), but not exactly the enticing and enchanting terror it could've been.
This review of As Above, So Below (2014) was written by Andreas M on 01 Sep 2014.
As Above, So Below has generally received mixed reviews.
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