Horror Film Finds Second Life on Streaming After Decade
A 2014 found footage horror movie that bombed with critics is suddenly climbing streaming charts, proving that sometimes films just need the right moment to find their audience.
HBO Max keeps proving that streaming platforms can resurrect movies that never got their due. The latest beneficiary? A 2014 found footage horror flick called 'As Above, So Below' that's now sitting pretty in the platform's top 10.
The movie follows Scarlett Marlowe, played by Perdita Weeks, an urban archaeologist who drags a team into Paris's unexplored catacombs. What starts as documentation turns into a nightmare as each person confronts their own version of hell. The supernatural twist on found footage actually works.
From Flop to Streaming Hit
Right now, the film holds the number 6 or 7 spot across most regions on HBO Max. It's been climbing steadily over the past week as horror fans either rediscover it or watch for the first time.
Back in 2014, critics absolutely destroyed it. Rotten Tomatoes shows a brutal 29% rating based on 78 reviews. But streaming has changed everything. Word of mouth over the past decade transformed this supposed dud into something worth watching.
Timing Was Everything
The original failure makes sense when you consider 2014's landscape. That year saw 15 different found footage movies hit theaters. The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity had made the style profitable, so studios cranked them out.
'As Above, So Below' wasn't breaking new ground. It played by established rules that worked at the box office. With so many similar films flooding theaters, this one got buried.
Second Chances on Streaming
New horror fans are discovering the genre through streaming services. HBO Max gives them access to titles they might never have encountered otherwise. The film's religious imagery and documentary-style approach help it stand out in the platform's massive catalog.
The found footage craze has cooled off enough for viewers to appreciate what this movie actually accomplished. Its creative take on hell and how characters handle supernatural terror deserves recognition. The dark visuals balance against a somewhat hopeful ending, making it perfect for late-night streaming sessions.