As a young man in my late 20’s, I can’t pretend to understand the emotions that a woman must endure during pregnancy. I’m a parent, sure, but I didn’t have to support another human living inside of me for 9 months (thank god). What I can relate to is the aftermath; the sleepless nights and excruciatingly long periods of screaming and chaos that all lead up to a brief instance of peace and quiet… if you’re lucky. Being a parent is hard, and it certainly isn’t for everyone. Sometimes it takes having a child of your own to realize that you’re not cut out for it. Alternately, it can take the loss of a child to make you realize that you want nothing more. These are some of the heavy and ever-present ideas at play within the narrative of The Ones Below, and it’s absolutely gripping.

…absolutely gripping

The film follows Kate and Justin; a couple who is expecting their first child. After getting situated and meeting their new neighbors in the flat below theirs, they discover that their new would-be friends are also expecting their first child. But after an awkward dinner conversation reveals some stark contrasts in the couples’ paths to parenthood, things take a turn for the bizarre. The Ones Below is a film about doubt and suspicion, and it uses your uncertainty as a viewer to weave itself in and out of logic and ration all the way up to its gut-punch of a finale. There will be some that argue The Ones Below is not a horror film, and to that I say: this is real horror–the type of shit that can (and has) happened in the real world. To me, that’s sort of terrifying.

There will be some that argue The Ones Below is not a horror film, and to that I say: this is real horror.

The authentic narrative is supported by the terrific foursome of Clémence Poésy, David Morrissey, Stephen Campbell Moore, and Laura Birn. Each actors portrayal is spot-on and allows you as a viewer to truly become lost in the series of events that is unfolding before your eyes. This is the sort of film that lives and dies by its characters and those who are selected to bring them to life. In this regard, The Ones Below is a resounding success. The same can be said for writer/director David Farr. For a man making his feature film directorial debut, Farr hits the mark in every conceivable way.

There may not be a ghost or demented slasher at play, but if you’re one for realism, you’ll want to give this one a shot. It’s sort of like The Invitation meets The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and if that sounds like a recipe for success, that’s because it is.

The Ones Below is available on BluRay, DVD, and VOD platforms on September 6th.

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