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REVIEWED BY SCARLETT POWELL
Our rating: 1 out of 5 Because of: occult-related activity Rated:
Part Rear Window and part Tales from the Crypt, What Lies Beneath is more than "just another ghost story." Claire Spencer (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a non-working mother whose daughter has just set off for collage, leaving her alone in a big house with her scientist husband Norman (Harrison Ford). Due to the absence of her daughter, Claire is more sensitive to the strange force that has begun to haunt her house... the supernatural activity that is so obvious in the next few weeks that follow. Convinced that they are not alone, Claire is terrified by the slightest unexpected sound... a door opening by itself, a radio turning on when no one is near... even a mysterious and ghostly face in the bathtub water. Norman dismisses her observations as an overactive imagination and "empty nest" syndrome, while no one else really seems to take her seriously, either.
Gruesome shots of the woman, as well as spine-tingling moments when Norman knows it isn't his wife speaking to him but that of the campus girl -- plus a shocking climax -- make up only a few of the many spine-tingling moments of this thriller. The mystery is engaging and fits together as neat as a puzzle. Unfortunately, the main line of the film steps way out of bounds and into the occult. Instead of seeking religious aid from a pastor or other member of a church, Claire believes that witchcraft can solve her problems. Plot holes are in an abundance, as if this film was chopped to stay within the time limit.
A half dozen profanities, including the use of an "f-word" are apparent, while the main characters drink seemingly nothing but alcohol. Adultery plays a large part late in the film, while never seen. And I haven't even mentioned the overall good intentions of the "ghost." The is some sexual content -- not blatantly seen, but rather overheard and suggested through a spicy exchange between husband and wife. But it may be the occult tie-ins and horrifying final climax that send audiences scrambling back out of reach. As Christians, we realize that séances and "harmless" Ouiji boards are a direct connection with the devil and not to be taken lightly. How then, can we root for a woman who purposely seeks to use them? The film's karma is a bad one. It promotes all the wrong things, and I wouldn't suggest it to anyone.
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WHAT
LIES BENEATH
Through a long trail of events and some digging, Claire becomes convinced that their visitor is the haunted spirit of a missing
neighbor (Miranda Otto) thought to be murdered by her husband.
Determined
to try and converse with the spirit, she turns to witchcraft,
conducting a séance, consulting dark books, and using an Ouiji
board. Unable to communicate in this manner, the idea is thrown
aside and Claire's in for the ride of her life. Literally. She is
possessed by the spirit of the dead girl, and major plot points are
revealed about the identity of the ghost, her fate, and her purpose
for haunting the house. That in itself should be a road sign large
enough for viewers to put on the brakes -- this isn't your
average ghostly thriller.
The acting's good, the special effects interesting, and the action certainly haunting, however, the film's core is especially dark, promoting the occult as an innocent practice and often
helpful while no spiritually-correct characters make an entrance. What Lies Beneath gives out plenty of the disturbing chills that moviegoers
seek but has a dark underlining message that Christians simply cannot overlook. More dangerous than