What Lies Beneath

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2:27

What Lies Beneath

PG-13

2000

2h 6m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

130 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

It had been a year since Dr. Norman Spencer (Harrison Ford) betrayed his beautiful wife Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer). But with Claire oblivious to the truth, Norman's life and marriage seem so perfect that when Claire tells him of hearing mysterious voices and seeing a young woman's image in their home, he dismisses her terror as delusion. Claire moves closer to the truth and it becomes clear that this apparition will not be dismissed, and has come back for Dr. Spencer and his beautiful wife.

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Critics Consensus

Robert Zemeckis is unable to salvage an uncompelling and unoriginal film.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Cross between Fatal Attraction, Poltergeist.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Most of the “boo” moments are obvious a mile off, which makes it hard to be properly frightened, or even startled.

Rated: D+

May 8, 2002

Full Review

Ed Gonzalez

Slant Magazine

Pfeiffer almost single-handedly lifts the picture above mediocrity.

Rated: 1.5/4

May 2, 2001

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Robert Zemeckis's filmmaking is precise but also a bit too precious and passionless. Still, Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer are perfectly cast & the melodramatic heat of its final stretch — featuring one of Zemeckis's all-time great bits — saves it.

Rated: 3/5

May 19, 2025

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

As schizophrenic as any film that comes to mind -- I reasonably wondered if elements from Wuthering Heights or Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood wouldn’t somehow find their way into this crazy patchwork quilt of a movie.

Rated: 2/4

May 10, 2025

Full Review

Michele "Izzy" Galgana

ScreenAnarchy

A twisty, supernatural thriller with a good dose of melodrama. Think Hitchcock with a bit of Douglas Sirk. It’s a very well-made film. ... A very enjoyable, fun thriller, the kind that you want to watch on a dark, stormy night.

May 8, 2025

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Jack K

It’s fine. Pfipher does a great job essentially acting alone in silent rooms and the suspense in the first half is enough to keep you going but it me, the ending (despite its twist) doesn’t pay off the film. It feels absurd for the otherwise grounded beginning. Harrison Ford is great at subtley and it all works. It’s just missing a sharper more thought out climax. That said, the set is beautiful, and ages very well, looks current. The shot work is great, obviously the bathtub scenes are iconic. And all the Hitchcock references are chef’s kiss. Check it out, film classic for various reasons but it’s just alright.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

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Alec B

Sits at the intersection of trash and class (this is all ridiculous soap opera melodrama horror and yet it is undeniably compelling). It's totally sold by the actors and Zemeckis went almost full De Palma here even though its somewhat hampered by the PG-13 rating

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

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Sarah G.

Fun suspense movie and a different kind of role for Harrison. We’ve watched this movie several times.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

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Ed B

I liked it, great performance from Michelle Pfiffer and I was involved in the script. We generally don't like scary movies but I'll give this one a pass. I think its underrated. It didn't change my life but it was entertaining and well made.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/03/25

Full Review

judy b

Actually should have given it one star, or no star. A real waste of my time. There was a surprise ending, but that didn’t help. I kept watching, thinking it might get better, but never did.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/06/25

Full Review

Sarah G

This has become one of my favorite movies. Good cast and suspenseful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

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Robert Zemeckis

Director

Harrison Ford

Norman Spencer

Michelle Pfeiffer

Claire Spencer

Diana Scarwid

Jody

Miranda Otto

Mary Feur

James Remar

Warren Feur

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - Channeling the Dead

2:09

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - What Do You Want?

2:01

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - You Killed Her, Didn't You?

2:04

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - Drowning in the Bathtub

2:13

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - I Think She's Starting to Suspect Something

2:13

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - I Know You Killed Her

2:03

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - The Woman That Lies Beneath

2:12

What Lies Beneath: Official Clip - Setting up a Suicide

2:13

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What Lies Beneath: Trailer 1

2:27

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Synopsis

It had been a year since Dr. Norman Spencer (Harrison Ford) betrayed his beautiful wife Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer). But with Claire oblivious to the truth, Norman's life and marriage seem so perfect that when Claire tells him of hearing mysterious voices and seeing a young woman's image in their home, he dismisses her terror as delusion. Claire moves closer to the truth and it becomes clear that this apparition will not be dismissed, and has come back for Dr. Spencer and his beautiful wife.

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Steve Starkey
Screenwriter: Clark Gregg, Sarah Kernochan, Clark Gregg
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG, 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks SKG, ImageMovers
Rating: PG-13 (Sensuality|Brief Language|Terror|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 21, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $155.4M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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