What Lies Beneath Turns 20 – Entertainment News

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By Geoffrey Huchel

On July 21, 2000, the supernatural thriller WHAT LIES BENEATH was released in theatres. I remember being in the theatre opening weekend, with a cold beverage and a tub of buttery popcorn on my lap, as I waited anxiously for the lights to go down and the movie to start. I wasn’t disappointed. It has everything I enjoy about a movie; an intriguing story, suspense, thrills and chills, mystery and star Michelle Pfeiffer, who is pretty much in every frame. Without exaggeration, I must have seen this movie about 30 times, and I’ll see it 30 more.

Pfeiffer plays Claire Spencer, a retired concert cellist, who sends her only daughter Caitlin (Katharine Towne), off to college, starts to witness and experience strange occurrences at her idyllic lakeside Vermont home, including seeing the image of a young woman reflected in the water, leading her to believe her home is haunted, or that she is losing her mind.

An increasingly frightened Claire thinks the strange phenomena has something to do with the couple living next door, especially since the wife has disappeared without any explanation. Claire expresses her concerns to her husband, Dr. Norman Spencer (Harrison Ford), a university research scientist. Claire’s concerns to Norman fall on deaf ears. Not letting go of her suspicions, Claire continues to seek any information about the strange goings-on in her home. Meanwhile, Norman is growing more and more concerned for his wife and he urges her to seek help. Could Claire’s mysterious experiences be nothing more than a vivid imagination? Does Claire and Norman’s peaceful home disguise a deadly secret which lies deep within?

The film’s director, Robert Zemeckis (BACK TO THE FUTURE, FORREST GUMP), who is known for his phenomenal use of visual effects, pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock, as the film features many of the legendary director’s signature elements, such as intricate camera angles and chilling musical score. The famously terrifying bathtub scene toward the end of the film has a Hitchcockian feel, much to that of PSYCHO.

Ford and Pfeiffer were both superb in their performances, but I will place more emphasis on Pfeiffer, who is the STAR and carries the whole movie. Pfeiffer does not portray Claire as a helpless and naïve housewife, but rather as smart, strong and heroic. Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Claire is one of my favorites. She is amazing in this role! Ford’s villainous Norman Spencer was a departure from his more heroic roles as Indiana Jones and Han Solo. Ford portrays Norman as a loving supporting husband but is at times withdrawn and distant, which makes you question if he is hiding something.

Fun fact: Ford and Pfeiffer were director Zemeckis’s first and only choices for the lead roles.

The supporting cast includes Diana Scarwid as Jody, James Remar as Warren Feur, Miranda Otto as Mary Feur, Ray Baker as Dr. Stan Powell, Wendy Crewson as Elena, Amber Valetta as Madison Frank, and Joe Morton as Dr. Drayton.

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