What Lies Below

What Lies Below

What Lies Below (2020), written and directed by Braden R. Duemmler, is a slow-burning thriller that blends domestic suspense with strange elements of sci-fi horror. Starring Ema Horvath as Liberty “Libby” Wells, Mena Suvari as her mother Michelle, and Trey Tucker as the mysterious John Smith, the film evolves from a tense family drama into a deeply unsettling and ambiguous alien narrative.

The story begins when 16-year-old Libby returns home from summer camp to her mother’s secluded lakeside home. To her surprise, her mom is engaged to a new man—John Smith, a handsome, charismatic geneticist who specializes in aquatic biology. Although he appears polite and attentive, John’s presence quickly sets off alarm bells. Libby notices odd behavior: his overly physical admiration of her, his strange obsession with water, and his unexplained knowledge about her personal life. These unsettling signs slowly build tension in the isolated, forested setting of the lakeside house.

Libby’s unease deepens as John’s façade starts to crack. His behavior becomes more erratic and invasive, and he shows an eerie fixation on both Libby and her mother. It becomes increasingly clear that John is hiding something dark beneath his well-mannered surface. The cinematography heightens this mood, with moody lighting, a muted color palette, and a haunting score that emphasizes the sense of isolation and creeping dread.

As the film nears its climax, it shifts from mystery to full-blown sci-fi horror. Libby discovers horrifying secrets—her mother is imprisoned in a water tank, visibly pregnant, and in distress. Libby also finds another girl dead, and multiple copies of John begin to appear. The revelation is that John is not human, but part of an aquatic alien species that preys on specific genetic traits in human women, especially red-haired ones. They use them for reproduction in a disturbing biological experiment. Libby herself becomes part of this experiment when she is injected with a substance that allows her to breathe underwater. The final scene is deliberately ambiguous: she wakes up submerged, panics briefly, but then smiles—leaving audiences questioning whether she has accepted her fate or succumbed to mind control.

The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics. While some praised its eerie mood, visual design, and intriguing premise, others criticized its uneven execution, underwritten characters, and abrupt tonal shift in the final act. The minimalist dialogue and deliberate pacing didn’t resonate with all viewers, and the bizarre ending left many confused or frustrated. However, some horror fans appreciated its originality and willingness to stray from conventional genre formulas.

Ema Horvath delivers a solid performance as Libby, convincingly portraying teenage suspicion, fear, and resilience. Mena Suvari plays the well-meaning but oblivious mother with a blend of vulnerability and denial, while Trey Tucker’s cold, emotionless portrayal of John strikes a balance between charm and menace.

In summary, What Lies Below is a moody, slow-burning horror-sci-fi hybrid that explores themes of trust, consent, and the danger lurking beneath perfect exteriors. Though its final twist may divide audiences, it stands out for its strange atmosphere and eerie ambition—an unusual entry in the realm of aquatic horror.