A once-dormant evil presence is abruptly unearthed in filmmaker Harley Wallen’s independent horror film, Beneath Us All. Spanning centuries and spiritual planes, Beneath Us All blends fantasy with good, old-fashioned thrills. Wallen enlists his regular troupe of actors, including Kaiti Wallen and Yan Birch, to bring this story of resurrection and revenge to life.

Coming Face to Face with the Devil

The film begins by providing a crucial backstory about one man’s unfortunate demise in Scandinavia, 912 AD. After being buried, Frey (Birch) is presumed dead and transported to America by a mob of Scandinavian villagers. Fast forward to the present day, and we are introduced to Julie (Angelina Danielle Cama). Julie is a foster child on the cusp of her 18th birthday, and struggles with her home life. Her foster parents are selfish and ignorant of Julie’s needs, the opposite of her empathetic nature. She gets along well with her younger foster brother, Stephen (Malachi Myles), who looks to Julie for safety and security. Running parallel to this storyline is a determined caseworker, Rebecca (Kaiti Wallen), who counts Julie and her family as clients.

One night, in an attempt to free herself from the despair of her homelife, Julie runs off into the woods, where she stumbles upon a strange discovery: a Yggdrasil pendant. She unintentionally uses the pendant to resurrect a demonic spirit, disguised as the man from the beginning of the film, Frey. What follows is a bloody trail of chaos and cannibalism, and things get personal when the creature goes after Julie’s foster brother. This soon becomes the ultimate test of what she is willing to sacrifice for her family.

A Multi-Award Winning, Full-Bodied Production

Harley Wallen is no stranger to supernatural horror, and Beneath Us All is an epic showcase of his craft. The use of practical effects grounds the film in reality, making the horror beats much more sinister. The screenplay, written by Bret Miller, does an excellent job of balancing both Julie and Rebecca’s storylines. Each character has their own independent story arcs, with their eventual crossover feeling organic and unforced. Aiding in the film’s overall aesthetic is the full-bodied, uptempo score. Composers Firoze and Kaizad Patel incorporate sweeping choral arrangements, thematically similar to a Hans Zimmer production. Since its release in 2023, Beneath Us All has received nineteen wins and nine nominations at various film festivals.

Takeaway

For an indie feature, Beneath Us All has a large screen presence. Its genre-spanning script, combined with compelling performances and confident direction, makes Beneath Us All a truly haunting tale.