There’s a cool little indie that’s cunningly terrifying at theaters called Under The Bed, and it keeps the scare level high. The film has come to DVD and it’s perfect for horror fans who want to watch their evil safe at home. Taking a page from Evil Dead the film does a good job of heightening the suspense and horror tantalizing the imagination. The central acting and direction here are quite good with strong supporters that help to keep the story a solid winner.
The story centers on high school teen Neal (Jonny Weston) who has just returned to his family after rehab and living with his aunt in Florida. His father (Peter Holden) and new wife Angela (Musetta Vander) are concerned about the boy who had left to recover from hallucinations of a strange entity in his bedroom and trying to burn down the house. His brother Paulie (Gattlin Griffith) was a lot younger when Neal went away yet remembers the nights of screaming. The family gets reacquainted and Neal settles in with his brother, keeping away from the bedroom he had occupied so long ago. When his father starts to have a breakdown and Angela doubting that a monster was ever in Neal’s room, Neal and Paulie set out to prove the strange intruder under the bed is real.
The story gets very tense and emotional as the boys try to maneuver their ‘imaginary’ creature into a position where they can fight it. Director Steven C. Miller takes the suspense to a high level working with his actors to give realistic performances. Both Weston and Griffith are right on the mark showing fear with determination to rid Neal’s room of the monster under his bed. Slowly spooling out the two boy’s plan, Miller shows he can create the necessary spookiness and terror needed for a winning horror flick.
Both Weston (John Dies at the End) and Griffith (The New Daughter) are familiar with horror flicks and bring their A game to Under the Bed. It’s the strong deliveries of the two boys, who have to work together to defeat their hideous adversary, that make the film work. Keeping the intense scenes believable and emotional the two shows they have talent and director Miller uses every bit of it in his film.
Helping to maintain the psychotic mood, Weston keeps his cameras up close during the most startling scenes. Keeping his focus trained on the emotion of his actors and motivating the audience with timely sound effects and lighting he puts on a great show. The dark scenes are the most tormenting giving a feeling of dread and the monster horrifying.
Under the Bed has been rated R by the MPAA for horror violence and language. The height of terror intensity can be even more powerful if you are a diehard believer in horror. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that may be too scary for them.
The video quality is very good on the DVD although I was bothered by the “letterbox” effect with happens to be a big bugaboo with me if you read my column on a regular basis. But, keeping the ratio as it was presented in the theaters is a good thing also. The night scenes are extremely good and spooky enough to enjoy in your living room with all the lights out on a stormy night.
The sound quality is clear and clean with no distortion. The screams and other horror action come across nicely and the dialogue is easy to understand. Turn up the volume and let the horror parade begin, especially if you have surround sound.
Specifications and additional film information:
- Cast: Jonny Weston, Gattlin Griffith, Peter Holden, Musetta Vander and Kelcie Stranahan
- Directed by: Steven C. Miller
- MPAA Rating: Rated R for horror violence and language
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Running Time: 1 hr 28 min
- Video Release Date: July 30, 2013
- Original Film Release Date: July 19, 2013
- Language: English
- Format: DVD
- Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Video: Enhanced Widescreen “letterbox” 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
- Number of Discs: 1 Disc
- Distributed by: XLrator Media
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
