The Devil Below shows just how good The Descent is by being its mirror opposite. If you like seeing characters who are practically enthusiastic about dying, a story whose premise makes no sense, and lackluster monsters, you’ll be thrilled to catch this one.
After an unexplained disaster in the 1970s, the inhabitants of Shookum Hills vanished. Field guide Arianne and four scientists -Darren (Adan Canto), Jaime (Zach Avery), Shawn (Chinaza Uche), and Terry (Jonathan Sadowski) - hope to uncover what happened to the mining town by exploring the region. After ignoring electrical fences and warnings from the locals, they discover something terrifying lurking underground.
The prequel sequence shows us that monsters live beneath the ruins of Shookum Hills. From there, we have only two possibilities. Either these are naturally occurring underground monsters we’ve discovered by digging too deep, or someone’s opened up a portal to Hell. Either way, it doesn’t bode well. If the monsters are merely animals, why hasn’t someone poured cement into the mine shaft and sealed up these Morlocks? If the creatures are demonic, why would electric fences hold them back better than crucifixes and holy water? Either way, why is this danger being guarded by a group of secretive rednecks? Don’t tell me in the FIFTY YEARS since the disaster these yahoos haven’t gathered enough evidence to get the authorities' attention.
Keep in mind, we’re still picking apart the film’s premise and setup. We haven’t started with the scientists, who you don’t buy as a team at all. When they’re “aggressively warned” by the locals to stay away, they practically wet themselves and yet keep on going as if their destination is an amusement park. These dummies don’t stand a chance. You just wait for them all to be slaughtered so you can move on.
A recurring theme in this film is sacrifice. Whenever someone senses any danger, they're ready to buy everyone else time by getting themselves killed. Although we never get a good look at the monsters (probably a good thing considering what glimpses we get look like a bunch of actors in rubber suits) it’s fair to assume they hunt by keeping their ears open rather than depending on their non-existent eyes. So why is everyone in such a hurry? The second you spot a C.H.U.D., just hunker down, shut up, and wait. You’ll be fine. Or you would if you had two brain cells to rub together. Unfortunately for our protagonists….
When director Bradley Parker or writers Stefan Jaworski and Eric Scherbarth aren't reminding you of A Quiet Place, they're screwing up the basics. If there isn’t a relation between the cavern-dwellers and Hell, why are we shown Charon-like imagery and the idea that maybe all myth has a basis in fact? Why doesn't Will Patton’s character age in fifty years? Considering what we saw underground, why does the movie end the way it does?
Nearly every aspect of The Devil Below could be slammed. The score is nice and ominous but completely inappropriate for a film in which everyone is trying to be quiet. The scares all come from things off-camera making no sound until they do, and characters having no peripheral vision whatsoever. The Devil Below is barely more than a draft come to life. (June 15, 2021)
