The 2014 horror film As Above, So Below was distributed by Universal Pictures and is considered a modern adaptation of Dante's Inferno. The film follows a young scholar named Scarlett who wants to continue her dead father's research into the philosopher's stone. But as many many Harry Potter fans probably know, following the trail to the philosopher's stone is usually filled with death and bad vibes. Regardless, Scarlett travels to Paris and navigates the catacombs with her cameraman Benji and former lover George. But they don't get far without finding a guide to take them off the official tour and deeper into the catacombs than allowed by the public.
As Above, So Below thrived on using claustrophobia as a trigger for viewers as the group had to travel through multiple small spaces to move to the next section of the caves, but the one element that made the entire experience worth it was the satanic creatures the crew encounters at the end of the movie. Tensions rose from the moment the group entered through the off-limits entrance, and the uncomfortable feeling followed them throughout, causing unease for viewers by the time the hauntingly abundant amount of creatures finally appeared.
But before that happens, the movie truly messes with the crew members' minds as they travel through the catacombs. They experience multiple delusions individually and together as a group, slowly losing their minds in the enclosed and scary space. For instance, not too far into their journey, there's a group of singing female cultists, which startles the group and causes them to run and escape through a narrow tunnel that collapses once they've reached the other side, forcing them to go forward.
As they continue, they find a missing person who tells them to keep going, leading them through the different levels of "hell." But the figure gets lost again, and Scarlett finds an important clue that symbolizes "as above, so below." She then looks to the floor for the answer, finding a door. But once they're on the other side, there's no turning back. Instantly, two people from their crew get killed by the people they've encountered in the caves as the film takes a turn, causing the highly anticipated creatures to appear through jump scares and chaotic imagery.
From that moment on, the catacombs relentlessly come for the group. Spirits, demons and horrific memories sprout up around them as they attempt to navigate the caves without their guide. Statues also come to life and attack George. And while Scarlett tries to save his life with the stone, she quickly realizes it's a fake. However, she eventually goes through literal hell to try and find the actual stone, and through her trials, she learns the power of the stone is within her. But as she tries to get her barrings, memories from the past assault her.
Without the terrifying imagery at the end of As Above, So Below, the movie wouldn't have had the same impact other horror films provide. Sure, some of the characters make it out alive, but they'll never be the same after the events of the catacombs, which is the mark of great horror. As Above, So Below may hold a score of 26 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but the film still continues to be a cult classic for viewers who enjoy scary creatures and challenging moments of unease.