Looking Underground for a Cartoon Connection: A Movie Review

Director: Rafael Eisenman.

Writer: Charles Morris Jr.

Cast: Ross Thomas, Sophia Pernas, Adrian R’Mante, Hayley Knight, Christine Evangelista, Adam Meirick, Megan Hensley, Jack Donner, Chaz Allen, and Jeff D'Agostino.

When military science creates monstrosities that go berserk in the intro to Underground, one possible solution is to send in the Special Forces to mop up with a few mortar shells and a flamethrower. Obviously someone forgot to bring these big guns. The soldiers become yesterday’s news, leaving what happens next a tale of survival.

A few years later, the base is abandoned and it gets used as the location for a rave. Lonely soldier boy, Matt Wilcox (Ross Thomas), has finished his tour of duty—presumably without a scratch—and is meeting his pals there. He introduces his girlfriend, Mira (Sofia Pernas), to Eric (Jeff D'Agostino), Storm (Adrian R’Mante), Jenna (Christine Evangelista) and Evie (Hayley Knight).

Unfortunately a fight breaks out because someone made a pass at Eric's girl. Even though Matt tries to calm the situation, the horde of bullies are not listening. After Matt's group gets chased into one of the buildings, he decides to barricade the doors and find another exit.

But life only gets worse when they find themselves descending into the mouth of madness. One-by-one, they get killed by some mysterious creature, and the goal becomes a simple enough scenario of fright, discovery and fight. The movie nearly has the hallmarks of G.I. Joe the Movie. The mantra is to never leave anyone behind.

Unlike the animated product, people die, and Matt’s gang are slowly killed off. The way they are offed will satisfy gore hounds, and what the victims experience here is almost akin to trench warfare than anything else. The monsters that are running around are very effective killers because that's what they are meant for. These beasts are supposed to be a cross between a human and an alligator. Sadly the makeup department did not have the budget to pull off a truly terrifying man-gator.

But even without the characteristic snout, they look more like zombie rats. At least one part of this movie has an inspired Creature from the Black Lagoon moment.

These monsters could have emerged to put a stop to the party happening above ground but that would have compromised their position. With only parts of the base illuminated, the huge shadows and film-noir style effects do not explain how the basement levels manage to be partially lit. Sadly that makes for some very dark set pieces.

As the gang somehow manages to navigate the maze, Matt assumes the mantle of leadership. Thomas has the charisma to be like the Duke, and even the physical stamina to handle some of the stunts. Though most of this film plods along predictably, which includes finding a mad scientist at the end of the maze, there is no victory to be found.

The film is very good because Wilcox comes out of this situation scathed. Most of his buddies have died during this film, and he will have to live with the memories of what he has witnessed. The war in Iraq, presumably where he has been, was made to look like pittance in what went on during this film.

But if Wilcox thinks his ordeals are over, no. This movie comes to a somewhat satifying ending, but there’s more to come because of what his group has unleashed. A sequel is most likely not going to happen. Now that could have been a film worth watching.

Overall: 5 out of 10

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