MovieChat Forums > As Above, So Below (2014) Discussion > Were they given a chance?

Were they given a chance?

posted 9 years ago by control101
17 replies | jump to latest

I'll start out saying that this film was one of the best I've seen in years. It really kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I've read about the film trying to clarify this one thing though but I can't find any...

I know some characters were just "there" for filler (such as Souxie), so I understand that is just the writers making up time. Maybe I'm expecting too much or maybe I missed it.

Other than Scarlett, George and Zed, were the others given a chance of rectification?

Scarlett had seen signs more than a few times that I recall: Her father hanging, the ringing phone, the noose; George saw his brother more than once I believe; And Zed saw his son that he denies having. But where was Papillon given his chance? Or Benji? And Souxie? It's easy to consider what their sins were (other than Souxie) but when did they have the chance to rectify? Where were their signs? Were they only guilty of personal sins, like greed or maybe no faith?

And I also find it strange that George was in sin because he failed to rescue his brother? He got lost on the way for help, what else could he have done at that time? Scarlett is easy as she should have picked up the phone. She was in control of her action there, to do or not to do. Though how was she to know it was her father on the phone or that he was suicidal? (I know, caller ID, lol) But George? I'll assume they were kids but still, he got lost. I could understand the sin if he just went home and not bothered about his brother's rescue but...

Again, the film was very enjoyable and perhaps I'm wanting more than what Hollywood delivered to us. Maybe it's best we don't have the answers and that's what keeps us on our seat, keeps the gears turning.

Do not take offense to anything I say; your sub-conscience agrees with me.

[–] thrice_greatest_hermes 9 years ago

I feel this film needed to be an hour longer to really explore the characters and draw a little more from Danté to create a Hell that wasn't just a bit part. I'm still waiting for a great film version of Danté's Inferno.

[–] kartoffelfirma 9 years ago

The theme here I believe is not so much sin, as it is guilt.

George felt guilty about abandoning his brother, Zed about his kid and Scarlet about her dad's suicide.

And if the others were given a chance during the movie, I missed it

[–] kaskait 7 years ago

It is about sin.

Scarlett knew her father was suffering mentally or at the least suspected. She ignored his call the one time she was most needed by him.

George probably dared his brother into following him thereby leading to his death.

Zed refused his own child.

During the rectification, they erased their guilt by admitting to the sins that caused this guilt.

[–] the_thirtheenth 9 years ago

For as far as I'm concerned, it's more about guilt and not sin(s).

When Scarlett and Benji go to the club to find Papillon Benji sees a woman in a white dress. He sees her again when they are in the club, she walks past the window. When Benji falls for the 2nd time he sees her twice again, and I assume he's seen her as well right before he fell the first time.

Papillon and Siouxie knew La Taupe well and feel guilty they never searched for him in the Catacombs (La Taupe said as much and murdered Siouxie for it) What Papillon exactly had to do with the man in the burning car I missed I think.
The kid from Zed appears before at the underground canal (that later is filled with blood when Scarlett goes back)
No idea what the singing choir (strange people) the monk on the chair and the faces in the wall mean though.

But, most of them saw the reason of their guilt at least once or twice way before they died, and thus if they were more aware had a chance to rectify themselves.

*Too heavy on the sarcasm? Yeah, probably*

[–] blitzballerjg 8 years ago

(La Taupe said as much and murdered Siouxie for it)

What did he say, I don't remember hearing anything. Also do you know what was said on the phone after Scarlett answered?

I swear the woman Benji saw before he died was different than the other woman from the club/cult.

[–] duelmasterjay 9 years ago

Here's wgats strange. The mother holding the baby appeared to benji not zed

[–] funkywrath 9 years ago

I was wondering about this one too.. I guess Benji had some skeletons/babies in the closet too, or maybe his story is different from Zed´s, for all we know he killed the mother and baby in a car crash. We see how fixated Benji is on the woman when he sees her exiting the nightclub, perhaps this has the same significance as when Scarlett sees her father hanging in Iran. If that is the case then Benji had plenty of opportunities to repent/rectify, just like Scarlett did in the end, before he was eventually killed.

[–] Aceofblades2k2 9 years ago

I think that the deaths had to do with not owning up to, or outright denying, their guilt. I don't remember the exact passage, but there is a bible verse in revelation where God says "be hot or cold, but if you are lukewarm I will spit you from my mouth". The 3 survivors owned up to, and repented for their sins, while the other three denied or didn't acknowledge them.

Pap- It wasn't my fault - aurderous car wreck in which his brother or friend died and he has a nasty scar
scar.
Siouxie- She didn't come to terms with the gravity of their betrayal to le toupe. I'm assuming she is targeted rather than pap because his transgression with the car was larger. Not as developed in the interest of time.
Benji - This one is tougher, but he was obviously a womanizer with a temper. I'm thinking the woman in the club (also in white) could either personified women he's hurt
or potentially even raped.

Anyway just my two cents, I enjoyed the movie very much. Lots of tomb raider and descent discussed, but also very similar to silent Hill.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] blitzballerjg 8 years ago

How do you know he was a womanizer with a temper? Also what's this woman and a child, i dont remember this.

[–] Danimal_77 7 years ago

You don't seem to remember much about the movie do you? You really need to pay closer attention next time.

[–] Red_Army 7 years ago

ITs the scene where the lady scres the black dude and he falls down the hole. She is holding a baby putting it towards him. It is easy to not notice since its like 2 seconds and chances are you are just looking at the screaming lady.

[–] PrivateBozz (156) 7 years ago

I agree with your explanations, but I'm not sure if 'owning up' is the right word. I think if one feels guilty for something deep inside they create some kind of inner hell where they torment themselves until they manage work through it. As above, so below also means as outside, so inside. This place forced them to visit their inner hell, in a sense.

[–] HuGoL1101 9 years ago

Papillon had a chance and he said that it was not his fault and at the end of his sentence, he sealed his fate. So probably it was his fault and he was denying something or etc!

Anyway, great film! It kept me on the edge !! The settings was excellent.

[–] NeedysBoy 9 years ago

HuGoL1101 writes: "...probably it was his fault and he was denying something..."

Yes.

We don't know for sure, but this seems likely.

 "Maybe it's another dimension. Or, you know, just really deep." --Needy

[–] ChefLucretia 8 years ago

To the original poster- very good points! I kept thinking of it as "sin" instead of feelings of guilt. Never even thought of Pap and Souxie feeling guilty for not searching for their friend, the mole. I found this film very engaging, and interesting! Thanks for your post.

[–] nycboy94117 7 years ago

The film is about facing your inner demons and your own personal hell. In order for them to escape their "hell" they needed to go through retrification and absolve their sins and guilt. Obviously, the film only divulged in 3 of the characters and I would assume that if you didn't retrify in time while trapped in the catacombs (hell,) then you will be trapped in damnation for eternity. Thats what happened to Papillon, Suzy and Benji.