BENEATH THE DARKNESS (2011)

Streaming on Tubi!
Directed by Martin Guigui
Written by Bruce Wilkinson
Starring Dennis Quaid, Tony Oller, Aimee Teegarden, Stephen Lunsford, Devon Werkheiser, Brett Cullen, Dahlia Waingort, Wilbur Penn, Amber Bartlett

BENEATH THE DARKNESS is yet another SCREAM-esque film that tries to be a whole lot more, but sadly fails to do so. The film follows the misadventures of a cast of good-looking twenty somethings playing teenagers whose hijinks put them in the sites of the town mortician. There’s definitely a Scooby Doo vibe going on here and had the film been playing for camp and laughs, it may have been more entertaining. Unfortunately, they play it safe.

Though Dennis Quaid’s grumpy face is front and center on the posters, the film focuses mainly on the kids who end up breaking into the mortician’s house seeing that the reclusive, yet friendly undertaker does in fact have some dark secrets. Respected in the community, Quiad is at his best when he attempts to hold back the madman who dances with his dead wife in the moonlight and interacts with the small town police which of course he’s grown up with. Though the film never really attempts to make us wonder if Quaid’s character is a madman or not, Quaid’s performance in these scenes of covering up his madness are by far the best.

Then again, seeing Quaid attempt to act bug-nuts made me feel the most cringe. With respect to the actor, I’m going to blame the script and direction for not really being able to guide Quaid through the dark corners necessary to pull off the role of town loonie. Then again, there are scenes where Quaid is genuinely hamming it up to BATMAN & ROBIN levels of camp which ring more as embarrassing than anything else.

The soundtrack seems to be made up of some songs sang by Quaid and his band which may explain his appearance in this SCREAM knock off. But some gritty blues songs won’t save this one. I appreciate the filmmakers attempts to inject a bit of depth by having the school kids studying Poe and darker Shakespearian themes in class, mirroring some of the dark matters they are about to encounter, but the hammy performance by Quaid and the lack of gore and new ideas here makes me long for Quaid’s next performance rather than recommend this one.

Check out the trailer here!!