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What Lies Beneath (2000)

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Average Rating: 5.5/10
Reviews Counted: 124
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 68

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

Average Rating: 5.1/10
Critic Reviews: 30
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 17

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

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Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 260,614

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Movie Info

In this supernatural thriller, a woman believes that a visitor from another dimension is trying to guide her into a sinister mystery. Feeling lonely after her daughter leaves home for college, Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer) begins to sense that something is wrong in her house, and feels a spirit is trying to contact her. At first her husband Norman (Harrison Ford), a scientist doing research in genetics, attributes her paranormal beliefs to stress or possibly a nervous breakdown, and sends her to a

PG-13, 2 hr. 6 min.

Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis

Written By: Clark Gregg

In Theaters: Jul 21, 2000 Wide

On DVD: Jan 30, 2001

Box Office:$155.0M

Dreamworks Distribution LLC

What Lies Beneath Trailer & Photos

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Cast

Harrison Ford
Norman Spencer
Michelle Pfeiffer
Claire Spencer
Diana Scarwid
Jody
Miranda Otto
Mary Feur
James Remar
Warren Feur
Joe Morton
Dr. Drayton
Amber Valletta
Madison Elizabeth Frank
Victoria Bidewell
Beatrice
Katharine Towne
Caitlin Spencer
Ray Baker
Dr. Stan Powell
Mitch Carter
Loop Group
Wendy Crewson
Elena
Tom Dahlgren
Dean Templeton
Moosie Drier
Loop Group
Bridget Hoffman
Loop Group
Donna Lynn Leavy
Loop Group
Micole Mercurio
Mrs. Frank
Edie Mirman
Loop Group
Sloane Shelton
Mrs. Templeton
Daniel Zelman
PhD Student #4
Rachel Singer
PhD Student #3
Philece Sampler
Loop Group
Iake Eissinmann
Loop Group
Jennifer Tung
PhD Student #2
David Cowgill
Loop Group
Eliott Goretsky
Teddy
Newell Alexander
Loop Group
Dennison Samaroo
PhD Student #1
Donald Taylor
Male EMT Worker
Claudette Wells
Loop Group

Critic Reviews for What Lies Beneath

All Critics (146) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (73) | DVD (30)

Entertains in a way we are used to being entertained.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Jeff Giles

Newsweek

Top Critic

Zemeckis has made a horror movie for people who probably don't generally like horror movies.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comment

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

Top Critic

A classy supernatural lady-in-distress thriller.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

What Lies Beneath is simply an affectionate, tongue-in-cheek tribute to movie trickery.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Kirk Honeycutt

Hollywood Reporter

Top Critic

It's not spooky or stylish enough to become a must-see for the goodtimes-hungry summer masses.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Top Critic

Cross between Fatal Attraction, Poltergeist.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Is there anybody out there seriously interested in seeing Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer doing the nasty?

August 8, 2007 Full Review | Comments (2)

Prairie Miller

Long Island Press

It's just gimmick all the way.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

They could've cut 10 minutes out of the first hour easily...and it still might have been too slow.

September 23, 2006 Full Review Source: Supercala.com

| Comment

John Venable

Supercala.com

If the ghost can go hunt for the villain by itself, why does it bother writing cryptic messages to strangers?

January 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Looking Closer

| Comment (1)

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

Offers nothing original.

June 26, 2004 Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

| Comment

Judith Egerton

Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

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Audience Reviews for What Lies Beneath

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What Lies Beneath has an interesting concept with a good cast. Director Robert Zemeckis crafts a good ghost story here, and manages to keep the thrills and chills fresh as the film progresses. What Lies Beneath is good horror film with a good cast. Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer are good here, and the story is

October 10, 2011

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

This film has a plot typical of silly b-movie supernatural thrillers, but, thanks to some good effects, decent performances, and some sharp direction, this transcends all that, and becomes a pretty solid and entertaining piece of wrok. It also helps that this film has great atmopshere and some purposely overt nods to

June 9, 2006