Where do monsters come from? Ask any young child and they are sure to tell you one of the places is underneath the bed. Director Steven C. Miller (Aggression Scale and 2013’s Silent Night) brings the monster out in Under The Bed, a film that boasts a hefty dose of 80's nostalgia.
Neal (Jonny Weston), a young man with a haunted past, is returning to his suburban home town after a two year hiatus. A fire, which claimed the life of his mother, was reason for Neal's departure. Upon his return, Neal is immediately protective of his younger brother Paulie (Gattlin Griffith) who is being tormented by a monster that lives under his bed. The two brothers, after being disregarded by their father (Peter Holden) and concerned new girlfriend (Musetta Vander), ban together to fight the monster that is slowly invading their lives.
There is a playful yet dread-filled atmosphere utilized in the film that resembles some of the qualities typified by 80's monster movies. The film splits the perspective of kids and adults, offering a response of matter-of-fact reality from the two boys and a figment of fantasy from the parents. This division allows the adults to remain clueless to the pleas of their kids, allowing the kids to take acts of protection into their own hands. In particular a few scenes where the two siblings makeshift weapons shows the charming potential being reached for.
While the focus may seem aimed at establishing a lighthearted tone, the menace of the monster is quite vicious and tormenting once it finally arrives. What begins as haunting-type disturbances and good-humored investigation on Neal and Paulie’s part transitions into violent/gory attacks from the emerged monster. While Miller does his best to build suspense and create an atmosphere, he also undermines those decisions by shifting the story elements unduly. Most of the faults with this film derive from an incoherent narrative, which never finds an identity.
The performances of the group are worthy considering some of the strained roles, though Weston and Griffith are especially capable in the leading roles. Their relationship changes throughout, from strangers to brothers to allies, and they adjust with ease. The assisting characters, which consist of a potential love interest for Neal and two young next-door neighbors, are introduced early but are underused and misplaced within the narrative design. And Dad, a character that holds the possibility of greater depth and development for the film, is mostly utilized in scenes that have him yelling at his boys or complaining about them to his new girlfriend.
Under The Bed contains numerous attributes that hint at a promising film horror fans would appreciate, this mostly induced by Miller’s attention to nostalgia. Unfortunately, a confused narrative and an unbalanced atmosphere prevent the nighttime terror tale from being scarier than the premise might suggest.
Film Score: 2.5/5
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