“As Above So Below,” a horror film in the found-footage format directed by John Erick Dowdle, centers on Scarlett Marlowe, a determined archaeologist who dedicates her life to locating the Philosopher’s Stone, a fabled item.
Scarlett gathers a group of people to assist her in finding the Stone in the deep reaches of the Parisian Catacombs, motivated by the unmet dreams of her father, a famous alchemist who was also fixated on it. But when a slew of paranormal occurrences and apparitions begin to torment the group in the Catacombs’ bowels, upending their journey, they must struggle to survive.
In addition to the exciting idea of a treasure hunt, the film emphasizes religious themes of purgatory and Hell. The farther the players go into the maze-like catacombs, the more intense their trip and the challenges they face grow.
As a result, the novel successfully conveys the dread of a cramped space as well as the innate anxieties that result from a union of personal atonement and terrible nightmares. But its main plot point—diving into Paris’ catacombs—grounds it in a pseudo-reality and compels a closer look at the movie’s origins.
Is as Above, So Below Inspired by Real Events?
Director John Erick Dowdle, who co-wrote the script with his brother Drew Dowdle, brought the imaginary tale “As Above, So Below” to life. Though they weren’t sure where to situate it, the twins had always intended to create a treasure hunt movie with a female protagonist using found film or a documentary-style format.
The notion of creating a story in the Catacombs of Paris was eventually proposed to them by Thomas Tull, the former CEO of Legendary Entertainment. Numerous souls have strayed into the Parisian catacombs over the years and become lost in the process, even if the film is not based on any particular incident.
The idea of staging a story in the catacombs intrigued the Dowdle brothers, who eventually discovered a treasure hunt scenario in which the female lead was “searching for something down there.” That object turned out to be the Philosopher’s Stone, a fabled relic that is claimed to possess the ability to transform any ordinary metal into gold or silver and bestow immortality upon its possessor.
Legend has it that the philosopher’s stone was an unidentified material with magical properties that was either created or discovered by 14th-century bookseller Nicolas Flamel.
The Stone and its maker are the subject of several tales, which the Dowdle brothers wanted to capitalize on while crafting the story. Many beliefs and concepts have been developed by both people and experts as a result of the enduring stories around Flamel’s Stone. It serves as the primary catalyst for the development of the entire plot in the film.
Furthermore, the mystery surrounding the Stone appears to be fueled by the film’s religious undertones. Consequently, there are connections to Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno,” which centers on a journey through the nine circles of Hell. The crew’s trek becomes increasingly similar to Dante’s torturous journey through the different stages of Hell as they continue to push on into the pitch-black tunnels.
As Above, So Below Adopts a Documentary Filmmaking Approach
John Erick and Drew Dowdle made the decision to use a more gritty look that was boosted through a documentary-style approach in order to ground the film’s grounding in reality and its horror elements. “I would call it more docu-style than found footage,” Drew Dowdle told Entertainment Weekly, despite the film’s obvious visual references to found-footage films.
It isn’t “These tapes were found inexplicably somewhere.” The film never poses as authentic footage, the director added in response. By having it filmed in a documentary approach, he hoped to embrace the story’s more fantastical and otherworldly elements while still giving it a sense of urgency and immediacy. It increases the feeling of immersion without going overboard with found footage film clichés.
The brothers were reluctant to call the story a “ghost story,” even as they described its thematic components. In light of this, they likened it to films such as “The Shining,” in which the terror and reality are so mingled that it is difficult to distinguish between the two. It reminds me more of The Shining.
According to John Erick, “The Shining is a ghost story, but it’s also not.” The characters’ psychological states and the terror that emerges from them are given more attention. Thus, the combination of humans, myths, and the underground catacomb labyrinths creates a cramped setting where the terror aspects seem more authentic. The protagonist’s hardships and her terrible adventures only serve to heighten it.
Scarlett Marlowe is a Fictional Archaeologist Modeled After Indiana Jones
John Erick and Drew Dowdle chose a female lead who embarks on an Indiana Jones-style journey into the Parisian catacombs in order to heighten the film’s dramatic elements. The brothers discovered her past and gave her an unwavering attitude toward danger and the pursuit of truth before they even agreed on the primary plot points of their film.
According to Drew Dowdle, the character’s objectives were that of a Flamel’s Stone believer who would do whatever it took to find the artifact. She is the daughter of a well-known alchemist who firmly believed in Nicholas Flamel, and she is on a mission to not only locate the stone but also to demonstrate that her father was not insane, he stated.
Although the character is clearly designed to fit the Indiana Jones paradigm, her personality also has elements of Lara Croft from the “Tomb Raider” media series. Scarlett shares Croft’s extreme singularity and seeks to maintain her father’s reputation. She also has a never-say-die mentality and resourcefulness, which help her in her explorations.
She discovers during the film’s events, nevertheless, that it also puts her in danger. She nevertheless demonstrates empathy for her team members, which makes her a useful leader, even though her obsessive traits can occasionally be harmful, such as when she manipulates others to do her bidding.
She is a fictional figure with no connection to reality, even though she had a heroic journey in “As Above, So Below.”
With As Above, So Below, explore the spooky depths of the Catacombs in Paris! Discover the secrets behind the Philosopher’s Stone and the eerie sources of inspiration for the movie. Do you want to read more spooky tales? For in-depth articles about your favorite horror movies, visit our website!