Starring: Sean Whalen, Maria Olsen, Yan Birch
Directed by: Harley Wallen
Vampires. foster children and their abusive “parents”- sounds like a mixture that is certain to bring about some serious trouble…and where trouble is abound in horror films, the blood is almost certain to fly – count me in! BENEATH US ALL, directed by Harley Wallen, the movie latches onto the ol creature-in-the-backwoods premise and gives it a nice spin, which should especially appease those who like their terror slightly slowed and brooding.
The film follows foster kid Julie (Angelina Danielle Cama), a sympathetic soul who is placed into the care of harboring parental-units Janelle (Olsen) & Todd (Sean Whalen in a standout performance) – they’re just a WEE-BIT on the neglective & abusive spectrum, and Julie has taken it upon herself to try to protect the other fosters in the house from being caught up in the uncaring atmosphere. She even brings in a small orphaned baby bird that she keeps under wraps from Todd & Janelle…and I think we all know how that little attempt at avian rescue goes – WOW. Things begin to turn for the better when social worker Rebecca (Kaiti Wallen) ramps up her visits to the house and starts to put the proverbial “foot-up-the-ass” to Todd & Janelle in a vain pursuit to exploit their halfhearted solicit of being caretakers to these children.
The problems arise when Jamie comes across a pendant rooted in Norse mythology on a stroll through the woods, and it awakens a Viking named Frey (Burch), who for all intents & purposes comes off like a rather unrestrained brute of sorts, but seems amenable to being hidden away from prying eyes while allowing him to convalesce to full-strength…something tells me that isn’t the smartest idea, but who am I to complain? As you all may have figured, once Frey has been renewed to complete health, he wreaks some serious havok upon the innocents who reside in the foster home, and Rebecca is joined by Detective Booker (Harvey Wallen) to try to bring an end to these sadistic murders…all because you had to play Mother Teresa to a centuries-old viking vampire…these kids today will never learn. All in all, the kills are worthwhile (even the ones we’re not privy to witnessing), and they’re accompanied by some stellar performances from a strong supporting cast.
Overall, BENEATH US ALL should more than likely appeal to the vampire-loving crowd as well as the fallen-family dynamic followers – give this one a shot with the lights off – well worth a watch with some garlic slung over your shoulders.
