As Above, So Below

As Above, So Below is a 2014 found-footage horror film directed by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle. The movie begins with Scarlett, a determined and resourceful explorer, and her team of experts descending into the Paris Catacombs. The journey is a perilous and often claustrophobic one, as the team must navigate through narrow tunnels and vast subterranean caverns in their quest to uncover the secrets beneath the City of Light. Scarlett's motivation for this expedition is twofold. She is driven by a morbid curiosity to uncover the mysteries of the Catacombs, particularly the alleged connections between the bones laid out in the caverns and an ancient ritual that supposedly dates back to the Middle Ages. However, her true intentions are masked, and she has ulterior motives that will put the entire team at risk. The team, consisting of Scarlett, Benji, a cameraman and her reluctant friend, as well as George, the group's historian and expert on the Catacombs, sets off at midnight, armed with a mixture of scientific curiosity and adventure. As they proceed deeper into the Catacombs, they begin to uncover an ominous and macabre atmosphere that sets the tone for their journey. The further they stray from the main tunnels, the more the team begins to unravel the dark history and significance of the bones. However, their exploration also awakens an ancient and malevolent force, unleashing a series of events that drive the team to the brink of madness and despair. Scarlett's leadership and her motivations are called into question as the team encounters an increasingly bizarre and disturbing environment. She is obsessed with uncovering the location of the Chamber of Leng, a mysterious and ancient ritual ground deep within the Catacombs. Scarlett's obsession becomes the focal point around which the plot revolves, setting the stage for a catastrophic conclusion. The film also features an ominous figure, an unseen presence, who appears to be tracking the team's progress as they delve deeper into the Catacombs. Throughout the movie, Scarlett's interactions with this presence suggest a deeper connection between Scarlett and the unknown force, raising an air of unease and foreboding. The team soon discovers that they are not alone in the Catacombs. A group of French explorers, who had stumbled upon an ancient ritual while venturing deeper into the tunnels, had become unhinged by the experience. The group's mental state begins to deteriorate rapidly, as they become increasingly enthralled by the mysteries they are uncovering. As they delve deeper into the Catacombs, they start to succumb to the darkness that surrounds them. Throughout the movie, the boundaries between reality and the supernatural are increasingly blurred, creating a disorienting atmosphere. Scenes of eerie corridors filled with human remains and mysterious symbols begin to pile up, further fueling the sense of dread. The final confrontation pits Scarlett against the force she has been drawn to. With each step closer to the Chamber of Leng, the tension and fear escalate until they culminate in a climactic sequence of events that threatens the team's very existence. The ending is as confusing and disturbing as the beginning. Scarlett is shown descending further into the depths of the Catacombs, pursued relentlessly by those she once trusted. While it remains unclear whether Scarlett's intentions were genuine, the true extent of her involvement in unleashing the forces of chaos, and the final fate of her team members, leaves the viewer questioning everything. With a unique blend of the macabre, the surreal, and the unspeakable terror of the unknown, As Above, So Below delivers a gripping narrative that leaves viewers questioning the nature of the Catacombs and the people who dare to venture into their labyrinthine depths.