Beneath Still Waters (Spanish: Bajo aguas tranquilas) is a 2005 horror film directed by Brian Yuzna. It stars Michael McKell, Raquel Meroño and Charlotte Salt. It is based on a novel by Matthew Costello.
| Beneath Still Waters | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Spanish | Bajo aguas tranquilas |
| Directed by | Brian Yuzna |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Beneath Still Waters by Matthew Costello |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Johnny Yebra |
| Edited by | Nicolas Chaudeurge |
| Music by | Zacarías M. de la Riva |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Filmax (International) Lionsgate (United States)[1] |
Release date |
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Running time | 96 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Languages | Spanish English |
| Budget | $5 million[2] |
Plot
editStudying 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 in 1965 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 in 2005, 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
edit- Michael McKell as Dan Quarry
- Raquel Meroño as Teresa Borgia
- Charlotte Salt as Clara Borgia
- Patrick Gordon as Mordecai Salas
- Manuel Manquiña as Luis
- Omar Muñoz as 10-year-old Luis
- Pilar Soto as Susana
- Diana Peñalver as Mrs. Martín
- Ricard Borràs as Mayor Luca
- Damià Plensa as Antonio
- David Meca as Diver Sargent Eduardo
- Carlos Castañón as Police Captain Keller
- Eve Karpf as Sophie
- Josep Maria Pou as Julio Gambine
Additionally, Axelle Carolyn appears a partygoer. Javier Botet, in his film debut, portrays as a humanoid creature.[3]
Production
editIt was produced in Catalonia. The film is the ninth and last film to be produced by Filmax's Fantastic Factory label.[4] It is based on the novel Beneath Still Waters by Matthew J. Costello.[5]
Release
editThe film premiered on 23 October 2005 as part of the San Sebastián Horror and Fantasy Film Festival,[6] followed with Spain theatrical release on 26 May 2006.[citation needed] It was released on DVD in the US on 9 April 2007.[7]
Reception
editSteve Barton of Dread Central rated it 1/5 stars and called it a "poorly assembled, laughably bad, absolute waste of time".[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12] 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."[13]
References
edit- ^ "Lions Gate on Fantastic voyage". Variety. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Filmax scares up slate". Variety. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Feldberg, Isaac (1 September 2017). "Meet Javier Botet, the 'It' boy of scary". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "LA BUTACA - Bajo aguas tranquilas (Beneath still waters)". Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Popcorn Pictures Review Archived 19 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bajo aguas tranquilas (Beneath Still Waters)
- ^ Condit, Jon (9 April 2007). "DVD Release List: Fear the Ball". Dread Central. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ Barton, Steve (6 April 2007). "Beneath Still Waters (DVD)". Dread Central. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ Riordan, Annie (6 April 2009). "Beneath Still Waters (2005)". Brutal as Hell. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ Johnson, David (20 April 2007). "Beneath Still Waters". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2007.
- ^ Weinberg, Scott (8 April 2007). "Beneath Still Waters". DVD Talk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ Mavis, Paul (7 April 2007). "Beneath Still Waters". DVD Talk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ Dendle, Peter (2012). The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, Volume 2: 2000–2010. McFarland & Company. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-0-7864-6163-9.