Two explorers discover an ancient symbol in As Above So Below
By
Atreyo Palit
Published Feb 3, 2026, 8:31 PM EST
They are a freelance list author for ScreenRant. They are passionate about introducing readers to lesser-known media, especially with a focus on representation. They're always scavenging for offbeat content that tells stories mainstream media won't, or that have been forgotten over time.
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When speaking of this niche subgenre of cinema, it is reductive to always bring up The Blair Witch Project, which is a 1990s horror movie that was ahead of its time, but found-footage cinema wouldn't be as popular a genre without it. It practically laid the foundation of found-footage horror filmmaking with its revolutionary marketing campaign and incredible practical effects.
Found-footage horror movies gained traction because people believed the events in The Blair Witch Project actually happened. The first-person perspective puts viewers not just in the same space as the characters, but also often in harm's way while others watch in horror. However, some found-footage horror movies made after The Blair Witch Project actually feature a character as the cameraperson.
This breaks the immersion of being one of the characters, but it instead helps develop the idea that the events on screen actually occurred. Now, some found-footage horror movies would work better as regular films, but the POV special effects often elevate films of the genre. These effects help overcome the impacts of flaws in other aspects of a movie.
As Above, So Below Has A Classic Found Footage Premise
Perdita Weeks in As Above So Below.
Directed by John Erick Dowdle, 2014's As Above, So Below follows a group of people who go into the Paris catacombs in search of the Philosopher's Stone. The expedition is led by Scarlett (Perdita Weeks), whose father spent his life studying the Philosopher's Stone. She's accompanied by her camera-wielding friend Benji (Edwin Hodge) and her regular partner-in-crime George (Ben Feldman).
The three are joined by a trio of Parisian locals, Papillon (François Civil), Souxie (Marion Lambert), and Zed (Ali Marhyar), after Scarlett promises them they'll find treasures if they help her out. So, it uses the familiar premise of an overzealous group of adventurers venturing into a place that they know they shouldn't. In fact, George is a reluctant participant.
As Above, So Below also grabs your attention right from the first scene because it opens with a breathless action sequence unfolding through a first-person shot from Scarlett's perspective. The lore dump occurs after the opening credits, but by then, the rush from the first scene hasn't settled yet, and you're committed to following Scarlett through to the movie's climax.
The Movie's Mythological References Add Intrigue
Image courtesy of Everett Collection
The writing of As Above, So Below leaves much to be desired, but the flaws seem excusable due to the breakneck pace of the storytelling. Moreover, there are some fascinating aspects of the narrative that keep you invested even if they're shallow. The movie's basic structure is based on Dante's Inferno, but the movie isn't repetitive in mentioning this detail.
If anything, it allows viewers to come to their own conclusions before confirming suspicions and moving forward. It has other fun literary and mythological references, and like the scariest supernatural horror movies, it allows the characters to reach their own conclusions regarding these elements. This keeps viewers guessing and invested, as the audience shares every new realization with the characters.
Special Effects Make As Above, So Below Immersive Throughout
The ending of As Above, So Below includes references to literal Hell, which has been created in painstaking detail by the hardworking makeup, costuming, and production teams. Terrifying visuals are used to demonstrate how the characters confront and relive their worst moments. Each person was involved in someone's death, and the dead person appears as an apparition to attack them.
The practical effects in these scenes deserve applause. The best found-footage horror movies rely on making eerie atmospheres, and from sound design to creepy cinematography techniques, the Paris catacombs are made to feel even more horrifying and claustrophobic than you may have imagined them to be. You're thus unnerved and anxious throughout the short runtime of As Above, So Below.
Its Lack of Logic Doesn't Hurt Its Entertainment Value
A scene from Would An As Above, So Below.
Stupid mistakes are most common in horror movies, but watching As Above, So Below looks like a compilation of the worst of these decisions. However, that only makes it more entertaining, as some of the characters make laughably dumb decisions.
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Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Screen Rant, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.However, the lack of logic isn't restricted to character moments. There are various loopholes in the movie itself, and some of the convenient logic in the film is difficult to accept. But the performances and the consistent stupidity of the characters keep you entertained right until the climax, which features one of the coolest horror movie moments of all time.
As Above, So Below Should Be Rated Higher
With just a 29% Rotten Tomatoes approval rating, As Above, So Below is the recipient of exaggerated hate from critics, which is as much a consequence of the found-footage genre becoming exhausting in the mid-2010s since copies of The Blair Witch Project were everywhere as the movie's own lack of logic, poor character writing, and use of found-footage horror gimmicks.
However, despite poor reviews, As Above, So Below has been trending among fans of horror movies, for whom, it is a cult classic deserving of more recognition. The exploration of the Paris catacombs, the interesting details borrowed from mythology, and the semi-effective jumpscares have made it a cult classic. In fact, it enjoys an average rating of 3.27 on Letterboxd.
As Above, So Below
R
Horror
Thriller
6/10
7.5/10
Release Date
August 14, 2014
Cast
Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge, François Civil, Marion Lambert, Ali Marhyar
Runtime
93minutes
Director
John Erick Dowdle
Writers
Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle
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