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What Lies Beneath poster

What Lies Beneath

year 2000decade 00sdirector Robert Zemeckisgenre Drama / Horror / Mystery

130 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Harrison Ford Norman Spencer
Michelle Pfeiffer Claire Spencer
Joe Morton Dr. Drayton
James Remar Warren Feur
Miranda Otto Mary Feur
Ray Baker Dr. Stan Powell
Micole Mercurio Mrs. Frank
Amber Valletta Madison Elizabeth Frank
Katharine Towne Caitlin Spencer
Sloane Shelton Mrs. Templeton
Dennison Samaroo PhD student #1
Jennifer Tung PhD student #2
Rachel Singer PhD student #3
Daniel Zeeman PhD student #4
Tom Dahlgren Dean Templeton
Donald Taylor Male EMT worker

What Lies Beneath | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Mallory Rubin format Netflix video launch tie-in
Explore episodeClose episode

Producer credits not yet identified.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Spoiler-heavy trailer; Claire staying in the house; Norman missing the possession; limited eroticism; student-attraction premise; empty-nester framing.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:08:20Read transcript
  • The trailer is condemned for revealing that Norman is suspicious and showing Claire’s possession, which drains suspense from the twist.
  • Remaining in the house after repeated frightening events is called reckless enough to make Claire responsible for her danger.
  • Norman is criticized for taking too long to recognize that his wife is possessed.
  • The film is considered too unerotic to function as the erotic thriller suggested by its marketing.
  • The idea that a student’s attraction to Norman would be rare is rejected because Harrison Ford’s appeal makes that premise implausible.
  • The script’s treatment of Claire as an empty nester without an identity is called insufficiently delicate.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Possessed Claire at Norman’s desk (two choices); double-date dinner (one choice).

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:34:03Read transcript
  • The double-date dinner is praised for cross-talk, couple analysis, clues, and Norman’s nervous reaction to a disappearance.
  • Claire and Norman trying to match the neighbors’ sexual energy is called memorable and rewatchable.
  • The full bathtub, steam, and reflected waterlogged ghost are singled out as a strong scare and a reason to leave the house.
  • The Ouija-board sequence is praised, including the lights, candle, dog interruption, and Cooper’s intuition.
  • Claire confronting Warren at the party is praised as payoff to the red herring.
  • The party realization connects Madison’s identity with Claire’s missing memories.
  • Possessed Claire’s desk encounter is selected as the most rewatchable scene and praised for Pfeiffer’s performance, the apple, candle, dress, whisper, and green-eye reveal.
  • Claire diving into the lake is proposed as a brief cinematic beat.
  • The buried chest and Norman’s crying confession are proposed, though his crying is criticized.
  • The redial, paralytic drug, bathtub drowning attempt, and car-crash ending form another proposed sequence.
  • The corpse physically pulling Norman underwater is criticized as breaking the ghost’s previously suggestive rules.
  • One final choice is the dinner scene; another ranks it second and selects possessed Claire.
  • Pfeiffer’s possessed performance is compared with the erotic intensity available to her in Basic Instinct, Scarface, and Dangerous Minds.
  • A participant recalls a Catwoman take in which Pfeiffer hit five targets in sequence with a whip and the crew applauded.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

Slow modems, no cell-phone camera, driving for reception, and landline redial.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:46:52Read transcript
  • Slow modem speeds and lacking a cell-phone camera are nominated.
  • Driving to find cell reception is nominated.
  • Using landline redial to discover the prior call is nominated.

What’s Aged the Best?

Ford’s casting; camera movement; planted payoffs; symbolism; star pairing; Vermont; bathroom danger; Cooper; still-photo anecdote.

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:14Read transcript
  • Casting Harrison Ford as a man who tries to kill his wife after The Fugitive is praised as inspired against-type casting.
  • The camera’s subtle following movement is praised for creating the sense of a ghost watching Claire.
  • The paralytic agent, key, clipping, missing cell service, and hitched boat are praised as planted details that pay off in the climax.
  • The Adamant shop name, pendant design, and Celtic-knot key are described as obvious but effective symbols.
  • Pairing major stars in a polished film, using Vermont as a scary setting, and showing an attractive cellist are praised.
  • Dangerous bathroom scenes and a mysteriously full bathtub are praised as effective fears.
  • Dogs sensing evil is praised, with Cooper cited as intuitive.
  • A participant reports that high-school friend Scott Carino appears as Claire’s late husband in two photographs; friend Jeff Gallo treated the appearance as a highlight of 2000.
  • A participant recounts returning from vacation to find a bathtub filled by a clog and a dripping fixture.
  • A participant recalls being told that the person rendered as “Vanessa Marcel” was very attractive during the friend’s Melrose Place work; the identity rendering remains transcript-uncertain.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Jody’s characterization; Norman cheating on Claire.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:25Read transcript
  • The friend is criticized for lacking a witchier or more dangerous quality, with Laura Sangiacomo and Linda Fiorentino proposed as alternatives.
  • Her yearlong knowledge of the affair without telling her friend is called disloyal and unacceptable, especially after she is asked for help.
  • She says she bought the car to pick up men, and the hosts wish the movie had suggested something between her and Norman.
  • The premise that anyone would cheat on Michelle Pfeiffer is proposed as the weak link.
  • The star couple’s marital trouble is reframed as potentially reassuring because even exceptionally attractive people struggle.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Luke Wilson as Norman; Claire forgiving him; a different murder method; stronger anti-affair film than Fatal Attraction.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:31Read transcript
  • Luke Wilson is proposed as an interesting Norman whose ordinary attractiveness would create less confidence in him.
  • Claire is imagined forgiving Norman after seeing him sail and reconsidering the benefits of their life.
  • Repeating the exact method used to kill his mistress is called an insulting way for Norman to try to kill Claire.
  • Using cello strings is proposed as a more character-specific hypothetical murder method.
  • The film is called an even stronger warning against affairs than Fatal Attraction because supernatural revenge destroys Norman’s life and kills him.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Joe Morton, Jody, and Madison considered; no final winner.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:04Read transcript
  • Joe Morton’s therapist is nominated.
  • Jody is proposed and debated as possibly too substantial because she is effectively the fourth lead.
  • Madison is proposed because the ghost has no spoken lines.
  • Miranda Otto’s Lord of the Rings role makes her recognizable to franchise viewers, while one participant says the reference means nothing to him.
  • A participant reports watching the regular Lord of the Rings trilogy one film per day with Liz’s two brothers.
  • Another participant recommends watching only the extended editions and calls the series one of the three best trilogies.

Apex Mountain

Cinematic Vermont, tentatively; no firm consensus.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:42Read transcript
  • Pfeiffer, Ford, ghost movies, cheating-husband comeuppance movies, haunted-house movies, Zemeckis, and the waterlogged corpse are considered and rejected or questioned.
  • Cinematic Vermont is proposed and receives tentative approval.
  • Grown Ups 2 is jokingly offered as a competing Vermont answer.
  • Grown Ups 2 is called good, and a participant says his children love it and the family owns it.

Cruise or Hanks?

Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks tie, 2–2.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:46Read transcript
  • Hanks is chosen for the value of playing against his trusted image in a Zemeckis movie.
  • Cruise is chosen for the evil turn, sex scene, possession reaction, and physical climax.
  • Hanks is defended as stronger counter-programming, while Cruise’s Eyes Wide Shut role is used against repeating another troubled marriage.
  • Cruise is defended as likely to intensify the role and perform the water and vehicle stunts.
  • The final tally is explicitly called a rare two-to-two tie.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

All-Black cast, tentatively; prestige television with flashbacks.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:40Read transcript
  • An all-Black cast version is proposed and receives tentative interest as a Tubi movie.
  • A prestige television version is proposed, with the amount of flashback and supernatural material left as key choices.
  • Fergie the Florist, Wayne, Buffalo Bill, Byron Mayo, Dan Orlovsky, and William Brimley are proposed in a joking cast.

Just One Oscar

Pfeiffer, Zemeckis, or cinematography considered; ultimately no Oscar case.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:00Read transcript
  • Pfeiffer is proposed as the strongest Oscar choice.
  • Zemeckis and the cinematography are proposed as alternatives.
  • The film is ultimately described as outside Oscar territory.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Dispose of incriminating belongings far from your own dock.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:05Read transcript
  • Norman is used as the worst-life-lesson example for dumping incriminating belongings directly outside his house.
  • They note that Norman has a boat and could throw the evidence anywhere.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Late-husband photographs; Norman’s boat or sailing outfit. Madison’s braid rejected.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:50Read transcript
  • A participant selects the photographs featuring his friend and would frame them as a gift.
  • The boat is selected, with Norman’s sailing outfit as the fallback.
  • Madison’s braid is proposed and rejected.