Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageWhat Lies Beneath (2000)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Norman Spencer (Ford, slothful) and his wife Claire (Pfeiffer) are so happily in love in their lakeside mansion that you know something dreadful's going to occur. It's just a case of when. But Zemeckis keeps the ambiguities coming. While Norman is content to pursue his career as a research scientist, Claire still suffers the psychological after effects of a car accident and prefers to stay at home with her thoughts. Then the strangeness begins: she starts hearing noises. Echoing Rear Window, she even begins to suspect her new neighbour has killed his wife. Worse, turning off the bath, she briefly catches the horrifying reflection of a young woman. Either she's off her rocker or the woman's trying to tell her something. But what, and why? Who is she anyway? Claire stumbles into her own investigation and proceeds to put her foot right in it. At which point - after a slow build that at times makes every hair stand on end - Zemeckis rolls out every thriller cliché there is. A pity, because until then it's a smart, realistically staged, adult-oriented and extraordinarily effective domestic chiller.Author: DA
Cast & crew
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke
Cast: Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer, Diana Scarwid, Victoria Bidewell, Joe Morton, James Remar, Miranda Otto, Amber Valletta, Katharine Towne, Wendy Crewson full cast
Genre(s): Thrillers
Duration: 130 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now