Not knowing anything else about the film, the fact that it was shot in real caverns brings to mind the unfortunate happenstance that was 1980's 'Alien 2: On Earth.' With some recognizable names and faces involved in this 1984 production, one can only hope that it would avoid the same ultimate fate. Even from the opening scene I think we can readily discern that this is not a top of the line genre flick (banish thoughts of 'The descent' from your mind), and there are definite faults and weaknesses that become evident over these ninety minutes. Still, while hardly a must-see classic, I think 'What waits below' (alternatively known by the pulp-ready name 'Secrets of the phantom caverns') is reasonably enjoyable, and decent enough to warrant checking out on a quiet day.
Some issues take little time at all to rear their head, like dialogue that's sometimes rather rancid and unbelievable, intimation of a contrived romance (because when a man and a woman share the screen they're OBVIOUSLY attracted to each other), and direction that at points feels a tad brusque and forced (odd for a filmmaker who has a fair list of credits to his name). Though executed well, an action-packed opening scene unnecessary and ill-fitting, as though it belongs in a different film. I would also offer that while there are familiar and esteemed actors here (for my part it's Lisa Blount that I'm most familiar with), none of them particularly stand out - the acting is good, but simply unremarkable, with all just ably doing their part. Lastly, though I don't specifically fault anyone, the design of the antagonistic figures is a smidgen cartoonish and unbelievable, more closely resembling something out of Saturday morning cartoons than the intended isolated population.
These matters are noteworthy, surely, but thankfully none are so severe as to wholly dampen the entertainment, and the biggest factor working against 'What waits below' is just the overall strength of the storytelling, the film-making, and the horror element. Though far from essential, I actually quite like this, warts and all. The filming locations are utterly gorgeous, and to be very frank, so is the art direction; set pieces, painted backgrounds, and props are all flush with just as much detail as the natural cave systems. While the guidance provided to the vanity artists and costumers pointed them in a somewhat garish direction, I nonetheless appreciate their work in and of itself. The post-production visuals are fairly well on par for contemporary fare, and practical effects and stunts look terrific, including instances of blood, gore, and even just environmental mist effects. Denny Jaeger and Michel Rubini's original music is excellent, subtly providing a measure of atmosphere - and to that point, while Don Sharp's direction may be imperfect, he nonetheless shows firm capability generally, and claims a delicate touch that helps the proceedings to carry meaningful tension and ambience as the length progresses.
There's something to be said for the fact that the overall narrative is rather simple, and straightforward, and furthermore effectively demonizes an indigenous population that lives in harmony with their surroundings. Yet the tale and its constituent scene writing is sufficiently strong to evoke an earnest sense of the intended blend of adventure and horror, and is duly engaging and satisfying. The end result is modest - words like "thrilling" are a step too far - but it's a fairly good time just as it is. Not every title needs to be a heart-stopping revelation, and this plays well in its own small space. It's not something one needs to go out of their way to see, but it's worth checking out if you happen to come across it, and is most suggested for those who are fans of folks involved. It won't appeal equally to everyone, but I like 'What waits below' for the light genre fun it serves up, and for a quiet day, that's enough for me.
