What Lies Beneath

Release Date: July 21st, 2000

Cast :

Directors: Robert Zemeckis 

What Lies Beneath is Robert Zemeckis’s failed attempt to channel Alfred Hitchcock’s soul and spirit.  Unfortunately, someone sold Zemeckis’s a damaged Ouija board.  He succeeds in the jumpy shock style scares, but fails to generate any genuine fear or suspense while doing this. Then in conclusion, the film careens wildly out of control towards a conclusion that some may see coming, but most hoped wouldn't occur. While attempting to capitalize on the ghost story ideal brought forth by The Sixth Sense, the combined effort fails to have any lasting value, or garner the desired effects. 

The groundwork for the plot involves a Ford, a successful genetic scientist, and his loving wife Pfeiffer, a former violinist who gave it all up to marry Ford and raise her daughter from a first marriage.  When the daughter heads off to college, strange things begin occur that only Pfeiffer can see. This information is laid in the first half, along with several unnecessary sideplots, some existing as red herrings, others with seemingly no reason for being here.  They will be rather obvious, but the revelation shall be left for those unfortunate enough to choose to sit through this film. Most of the suspense and scares come from the first half, and are spoiled by an overzealous marketing department who gave away their best secrets in the previews.  Prior to the release of the film, Zemeckis stated that he was hesitant to discuss the details of the plot for fear of ruining the ultimate effect of the film.  Unfortunately, his message was not received by those in charge of advertising.  The result is a first half full of shocks that will cause a jump or two, but never a genuine feeling of terror, ala Sixth Sense and Blair Witch Project.  The film uses things jumping out or appearing as a one-time shock value.  Hitchcock realized that to truly create a sense of fear, show or tell the audience something that the characters do not know and let that create a lasting sense of fear, instead of a one time quick hit.  By the time the second half of the film rolls, the scenes intended to surprise, shock and establish the basis for the finale ultimately become so predictable and humorous, that most of the audience will be calling them long before they actually happen. The finale is a twist and turn that anyone who ever watched a Hitchcock movies knows is coming, and probably hopes that Zemeckis and Co. aren’t going to do. The films is infused with a slight touch of intentional humor, however the biggest laughs are the unintentional ones that are created by the predictiblity and implausibility of the plot.  Intended or not, these humorous aspects kept the movie at least partially watchable.

Pfeiffer is effective, but never outstanding as the put-upon housewife.  She effectively conveys terror, fear confusion and dread in those big blue (most of the time) eyes.  Ford is the second half of the sexiest couple to hit screens this year.  Unfortunately, he is all for show, as he results to overacting and over emphasizing lines once he realizes that his script and director have failed him.

Ultimately, What Lies Beneath is a split personality of a movie, neither of which is very original or entertaining.  The first half of a movie is predictable tripe ruined by previews and trailers, with the only surprises coming from the obvious, or immediate. The conclusion is destroyed by an implosion of too many improbable and unbelievable ideas being thrown on the screen at once and delivered in a near laughable manner.  When the audience can recite the lines, or call the characters actions, something in the filmmaking process has failed. What Lies Beneath is yet another example of wasted potential that has been so prevalent in this summer’s movies.  The greatest fear that comes from this film is that this is what Hollywood 2K and beyond represents. Zemeckis should stick to what he does best, making feel-good movies that can span time periods, because he is not, and will never be, anywhere close to Sir Alfred. What Lies Beneath is strong proof that there is only one master of suspense, and any attempts to try, or pay tribute, will fall flat.  ($$ out of $$$$)

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