On the limitations of the found-footage horror subgenre.

It's that rare found-footage film with a strong premise,  a memorably eccentric style, and plenty of energy to burn. It's also poorly conceived, and hard to watch.

Devoid of any real scares, there's nothing to recommend in this absurd, wannabe fearfest.

'As Above, So Below,' starring Perdita Weeks as a tomb raider leading adventure seekers in Paris, is full of horror movie cliches.

John Erick Dowdle tries to inject new life into the found footage horror genre but falls back on cliche, writes Peter Bradshaw

Shaky camerawork and shakier plotlines collide in this low-budget horror adventure set in the Paris catacombs

They're going to have to start issuing licenses to all these filmmakers who insist on shooting their movies in the shaky-cam "found footage" format. Maybe have the "Blair Witch" guys and Oren "Paranormal" Pelli sign those licenses. Because something needs to be done to limit this explosion of cell-cam/security cam/nanny cam and GoPro footage that's…

John Erick Dowdle directs this Paris-set chiller, starring Perdita Weeks and Ben Feldman

R • 1 hour 33 min • 2014

"Wow, somebody should make a horror movie here!" Who hasn’t had that thought that while visiting some eerie far-flung locale? Well, one of the world's top disturbing tourist attractions is now finally getting the spooky film it deserves with “As Above/So

The film predictably alternates in scaring its characters by tapping into their deepest fears.

...filming in Paris’ actual catacombs gives the movie an undeniably spooky aura and oppressive claustrophobia.

The high concept: why not set a horror film in the world's largest mass grave — the catacombs beneath Paris, a world of cramped tunnels, unforseen pitfalls, and millions and millions of human skeletons, many of them neatly disassembled and stacked? The motivation isn't terrible, as these things go: academic superslueth trying to realize dead Daddy's dream of locating that alchemical Holy Grail, The Philosopher's Stone. Descending into the kingdom of the dead to find the key to eternal life — good times! There's even a propulsive energy that keeps things going through the exposition-heavy outset. But alas: once our team gets underground, the film turns into an FPS video game, and a poorly built one, at that. A squandered opportunity.

It's derivative and formulaic but John Erick Dowdle's hellbound horror definitely has the "boo!" factor, writes Mark Kermode

The found footage horror film set in the Paris catacombs is stuffed with too many absurd ideas.

Horror movie is killed by the lack of suspense and logic.

The 'found footage' from this archeological adventure should have remained lost, says Mike McCahill

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