Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 2005
Beneath Still Waters
Buy Beneath Still Waters now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Beneath Still Waters' is a 2005 horror film directed by Brian Yuzna. It stars Michael McKell, Raquel Meroo and Charlotte Salt. It was based on a novel by Matthew Costello.
Plot
Studying under a disciple of Aleister Crowley, the leader of an upper class group invokes a supernatural force that slowly devours the village of Marienbad and its inhabitants, threatening to spread beyond its geographical limits. The mayor from the town nearby commissions the building of a dam which would flood the valley and therefore submerge the village forever sealing the evil force under water after the leader and his followers were incapacitated to be kept from escaping. However, fate ensured the leader's freedom as he remained in the depths when the waters covered Marienbad. Now 40 years later an array of disappearances and deaths in mysterious circumstances are threatening the town next to the reservoir that now covers Marienbad.
Cast
* Michael McKell as Dan Quarry
* Raquel Meroo as Teresa Borgia
* Charlotte Salt as Clara Borgia
* Patrick Gordon as Mordecai Salas
* Manuel Manquia as Luis
** Omar Muoz as 10-year-old Luis
* Pilar Soto as Susana
* Diana Pealver as Mrs. Martn
* Ricard Borrs as Mayor Luca
* Dami Plensa as Antonio
* David Meca as Diver Sargent Eduardo
* Carlos Castan as Police Captain Keller
* Josep Maria Pou as Julio Gambine
Additionally, Axelle Carolyn appears a partygoer. Javier Botet, in his film debut, portrays as a humanoid creature.
Production
It was produced in Catalonia. The film is the ninth and last film to be produced by Filmax's 'Fantastic Factory' label. It is based on the novel 'Beneath Still Waters' by Matthew J. Costello.[http://www.popcornpictures.co.uk/bfilms/stillwaters.shtml Popcorn Pictures Review]
Release
The film premiered on 24 October 2005 as part of the San Sebastin Horror and Fantasy Film Festival,[http://www.lahiguera.net/cinemania/pelicula/1745/ Bajo aguas tranquilas (Beneath Still Waters)] followed with Spain theatrical release on 26 May 2006. It was released on DVD in the US on 9 April 2007.
Reception
Steve Barton of Dread Central rated it 1/5 stars and called it a "poorly assembled, laughably bad, absolute waste of time". Annie Riordan of Brutal as Hell rated it 1/5 stars and wrote that the film does not live up to the potentially interesting premise. David Johnson of DVD Verdict wrote that it has good scenes but criticized the overreliance on poor CGI and tedious character development on unlikeable characters. At DVD Talk, Scott Weinberg rated it 2/5 stars, and Paul Mavis rated it 1.5/5 stars; both called it derivative of earlier horror films. Writing in 'The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, Volume 2', academic Peter Dendle said, "The human dimensions of the story don't connect well, but the underwater scenes are visually very appealing."
References
Buy Beneath Still Waters now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 2005