COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - UNDERNEATH: AN ANTHOLOGY OF TERROR (DARKSIDE RELEASING BLU RAY)
Like any other community, the horror genre has gateways that bring new fans to the fray. For many, it is the 80s slashers and similar that were catalysts to the more macabre side of cinema. These entry points are often films that are well-regarded, easy to find, and generally enjoyable for the masses. Like any interest, it develops and changes over time. Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, but the inevitability that your viewing preferences change and expand over time is something many genre fans must accept. The beauty of this genre is that there is a vast branching of sub-genres that tickle almost any kind of taste. One such branch is avant-garde or “art-house horror”. The films made famous by the likes of DAVID LYNCH to SHINYA TSUKAMOTO favor obscure and striking visuals over linear narratives and cohesive plotting. These films often feel more like visual nightmares than terrifying stories, and don’t connect with mainstream audiences. In UNDERNEATH: AN ANTHOLOGY OF TERROR from DARKSIDE RELEASING we are transported to the world of surreal cinema that is dripped in dread and layered in ambiguity. Does this experimental horror anthology succeed in scaring you or is it too broad to captivate?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
An unstable individual is lured back to his country home by dark, mysterious forces, only to find that the house itself is a conduit into hell. Breaches in the basement spew forth a mysterious black fluid carrying whispers of insanity, tales of terror and corruption... An anthology of madness and horror from 'the other side'.
HOW IS IT?
Art and fear are highly subjective sentiments. What speaks to one person artistically can be so personal that even overlapping interests come from different origins. The luxury that linear narratives allow viewers is the safety to judge the film on the merits of the medium. Plot, cinematography, sound, acting, editing, etc. provide boundaries for us to safely watch the action without breaking the fourth wall to interrupt the fantasy. Art-house horror films remove that safety. They force you to receive a film in pieces and make your own sick sense of it with only the slightest hints of a story to keep you curious. UNDERNEATH is such a film. Its anthology structure is as loose as the sense of reality in the tales told. While it doesn’t entirely succeed, it is admirable for how boldly committed to its vision it is.
The bookend story in UNDERNEATH is that of a man called back to his home only to stumble upon a series of nightmarish visions in the form of short stories. Of the five stories within, none of them follow any sort of similar structure or thematic elements aside from all being heavy on the visuals and light on pretty much everything else. Some stories, like 6 AM and PASSAGES are more grounded and easier to follow while operating in an almost dream-like state. Others like I CAN CHANGE and MS. SHAPEN feel more like experimental music videos akin to APHEX TWIN and the mid-90s goth-grunge era of industrial music and video editing aesthetic. Quick cuts, lots of rusty earth tones, and an over-reliance on dirty metal remind you more of the NIN “CLOSER” video than a movie. If you find yourself drawn to the style over substance avant-garde style you are likely to get more out of this than most.
The thing about UNDERNEATH is, it is very well made. From the visual style to the editing and shot composition, there is a lot of talent behind the film and JOHN NICOL and ANDRE BECKER are clearly two folks with a vision. That vision may not resonate with all viewers, especially those who have a hard time with films that are anything but straightforward. The barrier to entry with films like these is always going to act as a natural diving line. In a way, the experimental style of film minimizes the potential for mainstream confusion, but at the same time, it can run the risk of becoming too isolating. UNDERNEATH doesn’t overstay its welcome so much as it doesn’t ever stick any of the potential landings. It is a lot of good ideas well executed that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, so how much mileage someone can get out of that largely depends on how much they enjoy that disorienting experience. The plethora of talent here shouldn’t be disregarded, it just is hard a lot to get behind for most viewers with stories that don’t ever seem to pan out well enough to be memorable even if they are different.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
UNDERNEATH is a relatively recent production (2022), and as such DARKSIDE RELEASING didn’t have to do much in the A/V department here. There aren’t a lot of specs about the picture quality on the disc itself, but the presentation is in 1080p HD and it looks crisp and clean on the disc. No image issues are apparent, and given the digital cinematography, the look is on-par with similar budget releases. You can see images from this disc used throughout the review and seen below:
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Much like the video, the audio here is suitable and effective. This release seems to have a 2.0 DTS-HD audio track that is mostly decent. The issues here are with the mixing, as some dialogue is almost impossible to hear with the volume turned up beyond a reasonable level. Some of this could be to the audio distortion used in parts, but I was constantly having to keep my remote in hand for a couple of stories to manage the fluctuation in noise levels.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
This release has a handful of additional features for those who are intrigued by the film’s production. First, there is a Director’s Audio Commentary as well as a short film, “Glimpse”, which served as the director’s inspiration for the film. You can see a full list of special features included below:
BONUS MATERIALS
Director’s Commentary
Isolated Score Track
Bonus Short Film “Glimpse” by director John Nicol
LAST RITES
UNDERNEATH is an experimental art-house anthology that is high on talent and low on impact. The great visuals and strong production design are marred by stories that don’t do enough to engage the viewer and draw them into the visual nightmares within.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at MVD ENTERTAINMENT for providing a review copy for the crypt! Underneath: An Anthology of Terror is available NOW and can be purchased via MVD DIRECT!
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