The Ones Below

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Alfred B SPOILER WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the film "The Ones Below." This isn't a film; it's a grim exercise in audience exploitation. "The Ones Below" presents itself as a tense psychological thriller, but it's really just a cheap excuse to punish its characters and, by extension, the viewer. What starts as a slow-burn tale of two couples, Kate and Justin, and Theresa and Jon, devolving into a toxic rivalry, rapidly descends into an angry, nonsensical gorefest. The film's primary mode is not suspense but sadism. Every twist is not a clever reveal but another cruel twist of the knife, designed to inflict maximum emotional damage on the protagonists without any sense of narrative purpose or thematic depth. Exploitative Plot and Sloppy Storytelling The central conceit—the tragic loss of Kate's child and the subsequent psychological torment she endures—is not handled with any sensitivity. Instead, it's used as a weapon. The film leverages the profound grief of a miscarriage as a cheap plot device to justify the antagonist's (Theresa) twisted actions. The "why" behind Theresa and Jon's obsessive vendetta is barely explained beyond a vague mention of infertility. This isn't a motive; it's a flimsy pretense for the ensuing horrors. The film asks us to believe that this couple would systematically ruin the lives of their new neighbors in a way that is so cartoonishly evil it defies all logic. The plot hinges on contrivances and illogical leaps. For instance, Kate's repeated inability to see glaringly obvious threats, or her husband's baffling passivity, feels less like character development and more like the script's lazy way of moving the plot to its predetermined, horrific end. The narrative isn't building a complex psychological game; it's just ticking off a checklist of cruel misfortunes. The final act, a bloody, violent descent into outright horror, feels less earned and more like a tantrum—as if the filmmakers ran out of ideas and decided to simply end the misery with a bang. Angry Tone and Pointless Cruelty The film's tone is one of pure, unadulterated anger. It's a mean-spirited story for the sake of being mean-spirited. There is no catharsis, no deeper message, and no moral to the grim fable it presents. It's a film that seems to resent its own characters. The relentless cruelty serves no purpose other than to shock. The violence isn't a consequence of character actions; it's a punishment meted out by a sadistic storyteller. By the end, you don't feel pity or fear; you feel exhausted and used. "The Ones Below" isn't a thriller; it's a snuff film dressed in the trappings of a psychological drama, preying on our empathy only to betray it for cheap, unearned shocks. It's a testament to how not to tell a story about grief, trauma, or rivalry, and a stark reminder that some films are less about engaging an audience and more about torturing them. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/24/25 Full Review Marti M Quite an interesting plot with believable characters. The two lead actresses were wonderful. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review Jeffrey P A basic and familiar plot that is well acted and directed with a slow-burn suspenseful build. Ending is a bit of shocker. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/26/24 Full Review Diana S Reminds me of '90s thrillers, not very deep or serious, the writing basic. Interesting actors, but they're quite limited by the material. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/15/24 Full Review Gary H A pretentious bunch of nonsense that is impossible to follow at the end, and therefore deeply frustrating. I have read an explanation of the ending of the movie and I didn't see those things actually happen in the story. It's a very frustrating film to watch because you end up with no idea what is supposed to have happened. Really frustrating film Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/23 Full Review Regina P I can't believe how stupid the people in this movie were!!! Total idiots! Your baby! Your baby, for crying out loud! I just can't. Both the husband and the wife are total fools. Your sense of self-preservation should extend to your child. These were pure idiots. I'm sorry; I know I should be judging the merits of the film, but the story was so stupid, I can't concentrate on any other technicalities. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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