As Above So Below Ending Explained, Plot, Cast, and More
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Updated Oct 15, 2024
As Above So Below Ending Explained
The ending of As Above, So Below revolves around redemption and personal faith. The story follows Scarlett, an alchemy student, and her team as they explore the Paris catacombs in search of the philosopher's stone, a legendary object said to grant immortality. As they descend into the catacombs, they face terrifying challenges that mirror Dante's Inferno, where people must confront their sins to escape.
By the end, only Scarlett, George, and Zed are left. Each character’s sins are revealed: Zed has a son he doesn’t care for, George feels responsible for his brother’s death, and Scarlett regrets not helping her father before he took his life. Scarlett realizes that the true power of the philosopher’s stone isn’t a physical object but is connected to her belief in herself and her faith. She acknowledges her guilt and symbolically "returns" the stone by rectifying her mistakes, helping George come back from the brink of death.
The survivors confess their sins and escape by traveling deeper through the catacombs, eventually emerging back in Paris. This mirrors Dante’s escape from Hell by going further down. At its core, the ending of As Above, So Below is about confronting inner demons, redeeming past mistakes, and having faith in oneself. The film leaves some mystery, allowing viewers to interpret certain elements and making it a thought-provoking horror experience.
As Above, So Below
As Above, So Below is a 2014 American horror movie directed by John Erick Dowdle and co-written by him and his brother Drew. The film stars Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, and Edwin Hodge, among others. The title comes from a famous phrase in alchemy, referring to how things in the universe reflect each other.
The movie is shot in a "found footage" style, meaning it looks like it was filmed by the characters themselves as they explore the Catacombs of Paris. The story is loosely based on the idea of the nine circles of Hell from Dante's Divine Comedy, a famous poem from the 14th century. In the movie, the characters go through terrifying challenges as they descend deeper into the catacombs, similar to traveling through Hell.
As Above, So Below was produced by Legendary Pictures and released by Universal Pictures on August 29, 2014. It was the first film from Legendary after they made a deal with Universal. Although the film made $41.8 million worldwide on a budget of $5 million, it received mostly negative reviews from critics.
As Above, So Below Plot
In As Above, So Below, Scarlett Marlowe, a young scholar, continues her late father's quest to find the philosopher's stone, a legendary object that can turn metals into gold and grant eternal life. After discovering a clue in Iran, she travels to Paris with her ex, George, and cameraman, Benji. They solve riddles that lead them to the forbidden Catacombs of Paris. With the help of Papillon, a local guide, and his friends, they descend into the catacombs, encountering supernatural forces.
They find the philosopher's stone, but things go wrong. The group is haunted by their past sins and must face terrifying visions, with some members dying. Scarlett realizes the stone’s real power lies within her and races to save her remaining friends. To escape, they confess their sins and jump into a dark hole. Miraculously, they survive and find themselves back on the streets of Paris, finally safe. Scarlett ends by saying her goal was always to find the truth, not treasure.
As Above, So Below Cast
Actor | Character |
---|---|
Perdita Weeks | Scarlett Marlowe |
Ben Feldman | George |
Edwin Hodge | Benji |
François Civil | Papillon |
Marion Lambert | Souxie |
Ali Marhyar | Zed |
Pablo Nicomedes | La Taupe |
Hamidreza Javdan | Reza |
Roger Van Hool | Scarlett's Father |
Samuel Aouizerate | Danny |
Kaya Blocksage | The Curator |
Théo Cholbi | The Mysterious Teenager |
As Above, So Below Overview
Specifications |
Details |
---|---|
Movie | As Above, So Below |
Directed by | John Erick Dowdle |
Written by | Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle |
Produced by | Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Drew Dowdle, Patrick Aiello |
Starring | Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge |
Cinematography | Léo Hinstin |
Edited by | Elliot Greenberg |
Music by | Keefus Ciancia |
Production Companies | Legendary Pictures, Brothers Dowdle |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release Date | August 29, 2014 |
Running Time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $5–10 million |
Box Office | $41.8 million |
Where to Watch As Above, So Below?
You can watch As Above, So Below on Netflix. The film is available for streaming, so you just need a Netflix subscription to access it.