As Above, So Below Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

As Above, So Below Blu-ray Movie Review

As Above So Below is an incredible found-footage genre horror film. The modern horror classic is a must-see for genre fans. Executive produced by Alex Hedlund (Into the Dark, Brand New Cherry Flavor), As Above So Below is exciting, terrifying, and gripping filmmaking. A descent into the perils of the Paris underground. Featuring a superb cast including Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge, and François Civil.

Paris has an underground world of catacombs. The catacombs are believed to be host to souls lost over time. A traveling group of explorers decide to set forth on a new journey into the underground Paris catacombs and see what can be discovered. Scarlett (Perdita Weeks), George (Ben Feldman), Benji (Edwin Hodge), and Papillon (François Civil) go underground.

As the team travels further and further into the tunnel underground, the catacombs prove to be dangerous and potentially deadly – with unexpected and tormenting horrors underground. The lost souls are underneath the streets of Paris and the team will have to fight to survive as demons both real and personal come to the surface. Who can survive the catacombs?

The performances are excellent in As Above So Below and there is a lot to appreciate about seeing these types of genre roles highlighted in found-footage horror filmmaking. The actors have a heavy burden placed on them to both create and distill horror during the experience of the catacombs exploration. The cast is terrific here and each of the lead actors did a solid job in As Above So Below. As Above So Below is a great showcase for Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, François Civil, and Edwin Hodge. The As Above So Below cast delved into these roles with a clear dedication to their respective roles and the horror underpinnings of the characters and their inner and outward struggles. As a result, the cast has even more horror to highlight – such as the turmoil one character feels on losing one of their close loved ones.

The production design by Louise Marzaroli (Reporters, Tristan) is excellent and far better than average on genre films. The design works well with its simplistic but effective approach to showcasing the underground catacombs. As a result, As Above So Below creates a sense of realism that is more effective than expected. The As Above So Below production also benefits by having superb art direction by Pascal Le Guellec (Colombiana, Another World). The design elements create an immersive horror experience, especially during the final act of As Above So Below.

The costumes by Annie Bloom (No Escape, Surrogates) add to the production charms, too. The nice costumes are a good highlight for each of the main cast members. The costumes feel real and also authentic to the setting. Bloom picked perfect costumes for the underground exploration and the characters feel more realistic than an average found-footage horror film – some of this can be attributed to these authentic designs.

The score composed by Keefus Ciancia (True Detective, Killing Eve) is one of the best components of the film. The score by Ciancia is a perfect accompaniment to the terror of the catacombs. The music was surprisingly effective – even when one least expects it to make an impression – and this elevates the horror filmmaking.

As Above So Below features stunning cinematography by Léo Hinstin (No Escape, Stopmotion). The visual language of the filmmaking is superb. The cinematographer has such a keen grasp on the horrors of the genre and the expectations of found-footage. The cinematographer arguably looks to break some of these audience expectations. The result is As Above So Below feels more unique as a genre film.

Edited by Elliot Greenberg (Smile 2, Devil), As Above So Below features fast-paced editing while also highlighting the characters. The character moments are never overshadowed by the horror pacing. Editor Greenberg did a superb job in the editing room.

Written and directed by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine, Devil), co-written by Drew Dowdle (Quarantine, No Escape), As Above So Below is an incredible found footage horror film. The filmmaking style is tense, exciting, and fun. As Above So Below delivers an adrenaline-rush. It is no surprise As Above So Below is so well regarded by fans as a cult classic horror film. As Above So Below provides the right balance of character depth, dramatic tension, and thrilling filmmaking – the directing style visually spectacular. Absorbing filmmaking and a must-see for found footage horror fans.

As Above, So Below Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, As Above So Below is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The releases makes no mention of a new remaster or restoration. As such, the release is likely sourced from the same presentation source used for the previous home video release. Even so, it is worth noting some technical aspects of the presentation. As Above So Below is sourced from a Redcode RAW 2K master format DI (digital intermediate). The source format for Redcode Raw is 3.5K but it is a 2K DI source for the final master and the film was shot using Red Epic cameras on the up/down scenes and a Sony PXW-X200 on additional down scenes. The cinematographic source process also included some XDCAM HD 1080p/24 native footage as well.

As a result, the entire presentation is in a native 2K rendering and the release preserves the cinematographic process used for the production. The good news is that the video presentation is exceptional and the release provides stunning clarity and detail. Colors look impressive and the found- footage style cinematography is beautiful and far better than some other films in the found footage genre. The cinematography is sleek and well- photographed and the style is perfect for the production. The release also provides a somewhat higher video bit-rate compared to the previous edition. Though the bit-rate variance is slight (meaning it may only amount to a near negligible difference) it is still nice to know that some visual fidelity improvement is obtained on the special edition.

As Above, So Below Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The lossless audio is crisp and engaging on the release. The dynamics of the audio presentation are impressive and add to the immersive nature featured with the audio soundstage. Dialogue is clear and well reproduced. The soundstage is quite immersive. As Above So Below may have one of the best surround sound soundstages I have ever experienced with a found-footage style horror film.

The surrounds are actively engaged during the entire presentation and the sound mixing is exceptional throughout the entire presentation. There is a dynamic and aggressive quality to the sound-mixing that makes one feel thrust into the catacombs with the lead explorers. The result is a more gripping thriller and horror experience. The high-resolution audio is superb and capably reproduces the detail in the sound presentation.

As Above, So Below Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The first print run of the release includes a nicely designed o-card slipcover. The slipcover for As Above So Below is nice and on reasonably solid cardstock (if not as premium looking as Vinegar Syndrome and the best boutique labels). The package design certainly adds to the collectors edition status of the new collectors edition release. The cover-art has a reverse side sleeve art (similar to the original poster art). Unfortunately, fan who are prone to "OCD" habits will be annoyed by the UPC cut-out not matching alongside the reverse sleeve art. This discrepancy on some Shout Factory releases is a major irk to me. (Some Shout Factory releases – usually recent web store exclusives – usually remedy this issue, making the continued packaging flaw even more irksome).

On disc supplements include:

Abandon All Hope: Directing As Above So Below (HD, 26:51)

What Lies Beneath: Producing As Above So Below (HD, 14:13)

Inside As Above So Below (HD, 3:39)

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 3:32)

As Above, So Below Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As Above So Below is a fantastic found-footage horror film. The filmmaking is exquisite and the performances are worthwhile. Director John Erick Dowdle (Devil, Quarantine) is a talented horror filmmaker with a great understanding of found-footage horror. Indeed, Quarantine was another favorite of mine. Fans of Dowdle and his brand of horror will be enormously pleased with the genre filmmaking. A stellar presentation and exclusive supplements make the release all the more rewarding for fans of the film. The first print run also includes a nice o- card slipcover. Highly recommended.